Avery Brown Classic created in honor of Mishawaka gun violence victim
BUCHANAN, Ind,-- It's been five months since 28-year-old Avery Brown was shot and killed inside bleachers bar in Mishawaka.
Saturday, family and friends hosted a basketball tournament to not only raise funds that will help family financially, as well as start a scholarship fund in his name, but as an act against gun violence.
Brown was an avid basketball player who attended Buchanan High School.
“I look at it as an example of the amount of people that Avery touched," said Brown's cousin, Dawn Brown.
More than 33 teams made up of family and friends including hundreds of supporters came together Saturday to remember Avery Brown.
“Arizona, Denver, everywhere, Florida. They flew in because they knew how much Avery loved basketball.”
On September 21st, Avery Brown was shot and killed inside bleachers bar in Mishawaka.
“It couldn’t have happened to a worst person," said Dawn Brown.
Some of the proceeds gathered at the tournament will help fund a scholarship in hopes of preventing gun violence from happening to anyone else.
“It could help people become better. At the end of the day, we want to stop the violence. We want to make sure we take people out of certain situations and put them in better situations," said Brown's friend, Ross Sanders.
Entry was 140 dollars per team, and tickets to get in were between five to ten dollars. They even auctioned off Brown's high school jersey.
“They auctioned off Avery's high school basketball jersey. I think it sold for like, 350," said Dawn Brown.
“When it kept going up, I'm like, is this life right now? Is this really happening right now?," said event coordinator and friend, Jeff Kyles.
Every dollar was worth it according to friends and family in honor of Avery Brown's life.
“When I look into that gym and see all those people I think, these are all the people that Avery touched. He touched all these peoples hearts and they’re here to support him. It makes me speechless, it makes me speechless," said Dawn Brown.