'A great young man': Hard-working Peoria teen had vision of life, was driven to succeed
PEORIA — For more than a year, staff at the Friendship House knew of Quinton Scott's plans — to graduate and begin working with a local union to advance his carpentry skills.
"He was a kid who was working towards something. When he arrived here a year ago, he was talking of when he would graduate, when he'd move out, start a life and get a good job," said Marcellus Sommerville, who runs the organization.
Such talk is common, but Scott was different.
"He had started to take action. That's part that we loved the most. He started to take action, and as one of his mentors, I saw all that potential," said a dejected Sommerville, a day after Scott was shot and killed near the Taft Homes.
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Sommerville had trouble speaking of the 19-year-old. He'd often stop and take a breath. People at the North Valley outreach organization were "hurting," he said. Scott's death shocked them all.
"It wasn't supposed to happen in my mind. He was supposed to be a carpenter in the union and come back and share his story and then mentor young men and women in the community. It's hard to swallow," he said.
His older sister, Alaya Scott, 21, said her brother was someone who knew what he wanted and was willing to work for it. He wanted a car and was to pick one up this week. He wanted his own place to live and was in the process of moving out.
Quinton recently graduated from Knoxville Center for Student Success, Alaya Scott said. And he was a good uncle to his six nieces and nephews, she said.
Added Cortney Foster, the Friendship House's direction of operations: "He was a great young man who was on the right path. We are so saddened by this tragedy. He had everything aligned for future success."
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At about 3:30 a.m. Monday, Scott was shot multiple times in the chest and leg while in the 600 block of Northeast Adams Street. Another person, a minor, was also shot in the leg, according to police.
Scott was taken to OSF Healthcare Saint Francis Medical Center by a private vehicle. He died there about an hour after the shooting. Police have made no arrests, and the matter remains under investigation, said Peoria Police spokeswoman Semone Roth.
No motive has been released on what happened, but Sommerville noted Scott was like many in the community, struggling with life’s challenges. There was the cheery, smiling boy who worked at the Friendship House's food pantry who was eager to learn, ready to help and always happy.
It wasn't that he was involved in bad things, but rather the pressures of everyday life and people around him influenced him negatively.
"I think most kids in the community battle with what they are dealing with daily outside of school and work.” he said.
Foster saw that potential, as well.
"Within the past couple months he graduated from high school, was accepted to the carpentry’s apprenticeship program and received his first job assignment. He was saving for his first car," she said. "He was determined to reach his goals. He has been working in our Pathway to your Future Program this past year, learning on the job skills to prepare him for his future."
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And now, she and others are left to wonder what if and what could have been.
"Our community needs us. We refuse to give up. Peoria Friendship House will work every single day to help find the resources we need to end this cycle of violence," she said.
Sommerville agreed, saying they are thinking of Quinton and how to honor his legacy.
"How can we help him live on and inspire and encourage the next young man or kid who needs help but doesn't know how to get there?" he said.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Family, friends remember Peoria teen shot on Fourth of July
