Schools

Petition Gets 5K Signatures To Rename Maplewood Field For Fofana

Maplewood NJ teen Moussa Fofana, shot to death June 6, dreamed of being a soccer star. Friends want to name the athletic complex for him.

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Students at Columbia High School in Maplewood have now gotten 5,026 signatures on their petition to rename their school's athletic complex after teen athlete Moussa Fofana, who was shot and killed at the fields on June 6.

Fofana’s family and community continue to seek answers after the teen was slain near Underhill Field Complex on a Sunday evening. READ MORE: At Vigil For Slain Maplewood Teen, Community Seeks Answers

"On behalf of the Columbia student body, we are asking the school’s administration, as well as the Mayors of Maplewood and South Orange, to consider renaming Underhill Field in memory of our friend and teammate Moussa Fofana, who died tragically and needlessly on June 6th," wrote organizers. "Moussa was a passionate soccer player who dreamed of playing professionally, and who spent countless hours practicing at Underhill Field. It is also where he died. He had a bright future ahead of him and his light went out far too soon."

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Organizer Lily Kubany clarified later, "We wanted to reach out to clarify that it is in no way our intention or desire to change the name of the Lynn Profeta Field, but rather we are asking to rename the 'Underhill Sports Complex' after Moussa. Please continue to share the petition."

You can view the petition here.

Find out what's happening in Maplewoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Prosecutors recently said they are still seeking answers and suspects in the shooting that left Fofana, 18, dead and another student at the high school wounded. READ MORE: $10K Reward Offered In Homicide Of Maplewood Teen Moussa Fofana

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