The funeral of Jacob Hall on Wednesday has one message: We must forgive. The 6-year-old boy died after a shooter opened fire at Townville Elementary School playground on Sept. 28. His funeral left tears in his parent's eyes, but his life has a meaningful message.
Dressed as superheroes, hundreds of mourners gathered at Jacob's funeral to reminisce his short-lived life. They are dressed as the Avengers, Batman, Superman and others. Jacob's casket was also decorated with his favorite cartoon characters like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Captain America.
Forgiveness is the message that mourners heard again and again at Jacob's funeral. In one of the stories that Jacob's mother, Renae Hall, told the congregation, it shows the boy's love to Jesus. Days before he died, he said, "Mama, Jesus loves everyone. Even those people who do bad things."
Tim Marcengill, the associate pastor of Oakdale Baptist Church in Townville, said Jacob loved and forgave in superhero fashion.
U.S. Senator Tim Scott and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley also attended Jacob's funeral. Gov. Haley was also one of the first people who visited Jacob when he was taken to a hospital. The governor said the boy was a smart, adorable child with a contagious smile and strong faith.
Jacob's service ended with the congregation singing "Jesus Loves Me."
On Sept 28, Jacob was playing in the school playground when he was shot in the main artery in his thigh that caused massive blood loss. He was placed on life support in the hospital before suffering from cardiac arrest on Saturday.
The alleged shooter was 14-year-old Jesse Osborne of Townville. Osborne also reportedly killed his father at their family home before going to Townville Elementary School playground. Investigators said Jesse was homeschooled after being suspended for carrying a gun during classes.
On Friday, the suspect was charged as a juvenile. And after Jacob's death, the prosecution upgraded the alleged shooter's charges to two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder. It is still unclear whether he will be tried as an adult, but court officials say it is possible.
In South Carolina, a child under the age of 17 is automatically tried as a juvenile in Family Court, but it is possible for prosecutors to request a judge to tried the accused as an adult.
In a released statement published in PEOPLE, Jacob's parents said their child came into their lives six years and four months ago and everything changed. Jacob showed them how to love, smile, and laugh even on days when they did not want to.
