Latoni Crowder rushed to Scranton from Harrisburg after a 3 a.m. call saying her oldest child and only son had been shot.
Her worst fears were realized when she arrived and was directed to the coroner's office, where she found her son, Rahsan Crowder, dead.
"He was on the stretcher," Ms. Crowder said. "He looked like he was sleeping, but he was so, so cold."
Mr. Crowder, 22, died at Geisinger Community Medical Center early Sunday from bullet wounds to his chest and right thigh, Lackawanna County Coroner Tim Rowland said.
Police said the shooting stemmed from a verbal dispute that escalated into gunfire after a party near Vine Street and Madison Avenue. Acting Police Chief Graziano said it is possible alcohol was involved. As of Tuesday, no arrest had been made. Chief Graziano police continue to review security camera footage, but no suspects have been identified.
Ms. Crowder can't believe her son, a polite, jovial young man who loved his sisters, family and sports, was gunned down.
"He was just trying to go to school and become something," she said. "He was in physical education, wanted to be a gym teacher. No one could believe it, because he wasn't confrontational."
Family friends of Mr. Crowder are raising money to help his family bury him.
Donation jars have been placed at Ice Cream Heaven & Bar-B-Que Cottage, 5890 Derry St., Harrisburg, said restaurant owner Jeanne Webster. Since the jars went out, the Websters have been able to give Ms. Crowder $150.
"She's getting ready to buy his outfit this weekend," said Catherine Webster, 20. "She has been extremely grateful; says she can't thank us enough."
Ms. Webster is Mrs. Webster's daughter and Rahsan Crowder's ex-girlfriend. The couple broke up two years ago, but remained close friends.
"I wish I could do more," Mrs. Webster said of the collection for Ms. Crowder. "I am trying to set up something online so she can bury Rahsan and not have to worry about finances. This is a time she should be grieving, and not have to worry about it."
Mr. Crowder will be buried on Monday at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 1439 Market St. Harrisburg.
Mrs. Webster will keep the jars out for 30 days.
"If we have to do spaghetti dinners or fund-raisers on top of that, then that's what we'll have to do," Mrs. Webster said.
Contact the writers: ksullivan@timesshamrock.com, @ksullivanTT on Twitter
jkohut@timesshamrock.com, @jkohutTT on Twitter