Mater Academy East is preparing to remember 16-year-old Steven Carroll Jr., an athlete whose family says he died after trying to help a relative.
LAS VEGAS — A Las Vegas school community is preparing a candlelight vigil for 16-year-old Steven Carroll Jr. as his family mourns the football and basketball player and seeks answers about the shooting that ended his life.
Carroll, known as “Buddah,” attended Mater Academy East and died Oct. 17, according to his obituary. The school has posted a candlelight vigil honoring Carroll and Markel Rogers among its current announcements. Carroll’s relatives said the gathering for him was planned for 6 p.m. Sunday at the school, giving classmates, friends and family a place to remember the teenager publicly.
The vigil follows days of grief for Carroll’s family, which described him as a young athlete who cared about other people. His mother, Mekala Hal, told KSNV that Carroll woke her before leaving home to check on a cousin who was involved in a dispute with the father of her child. Hal said her son never made it back home.
Hal remembered Carroll as both a football and basketball player and emphasized that he was still a child with plans ahead of him. His father, Steven Carroll, also focused on his son’s willingness to help others, saying the teenager’s concern for people was an important part of who he was.
The family has also challenged what it describes as an inaccurate narrative about the shooting. Hal said her son was not involved in gang violence. The reporting reviewed for this story does not establish a gang connection, and publicly available information does not identify who fired the fatal shot or provide a complete account of the circumstances leading to Carroll’s death.
Carroll’s grandmother, Delona Partridge, has asked anyone with relevant information to contact police. She said relatives do not want retaliation and instead want the case handled through law enforcement. Her appeal has become part of the family’s broader effort to keep attention on finding answers while mourning the teenager.
Community support has extended beyond the planned vigil. A barbecue and bake sale fundraiser was scheduled for noon Saturday near Owens Avenue and H Street, with proceeds intended to help the family with funeral expenses. An online fundraising effort also was created for the family.
Mater Academy East serves students in Las Vegas and lists athletics among its programs. Carroll’s participation in football and basketball has featured prominently in his family’s memories of him, and the planned school gathering reflects the impact of his death beyond his immediate relatives.
An obituary from Andre’s Family Mortuary and Cremation lists Carroll’s birth date as March 15, 2010, and his death date as Oct. 17, 2026. It also lists an identification viewing held Oct. 19 in North Las Vegas. Additional details about his funeral arrangements were not included in the material reviewed for this report.
As the vigil approaches, the family’s public message has centered on remembering Carroll as a student, athlete and loved one while urging people with knowledge of the shooting to help authorities establish what happened. Key details surrounding the killing, including the identity of the shooter and any possible arrests, have not been publicly confirmed in the sources reviewed.
Author note: Last updated October 24, 2026.