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Funeral services for Asbury Park High School graduate and star football player Jamar Small, 24, will be held Jan 2, according to community leaders.

Small died after sustaining gunfire wounds Sunday afternoon along Summerfield Avenue, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said in a written statement. A second victim sustained nonlife threatening wounds.

Community leaders announced Wednesday afternoon that a 9 a.m. viewing will be held prior to the 11 a.m. funeral service at Living Word Christian Fellowship at 81 Route 35 in Neptune City.

In a Dec. 22 news statement signed by Nicolle Harris, spokesperson for the National Action Network, Asbury Park Chapter and Rev. Prophet Kevin Nunn, a community leader and activist, the family thanked the community for their prayers and outpouring of love and support.

“At this time they do not wish to make any public statements due to the fact that they are distraught and still going through the grieving process,” the statement said.

A GoFundMe campaign was created Tuesday afternoon to help the family meet funeral expenses.

A written statement on the fundraising website said Small was celebrated as a success story by school officials and community organizers.

Born and raised in Asbury Park, Small led the Asbury Park High School football team to its third straight championship in 2009. The Asbury Park High School graduate won a football scholarship to Texas Southern University in Houston, where he obtained a business administration degree.

“His goal: to pay it forward, to coach young athletes in Asbury Park and steer them away from drugs and gangs — just as someone had done for him,” the GoFundMe page reads.

Small and a second victim sustained gunshot wounds near 11:56 a.m. Sunday along the 1000 block of Summerfield Avenue, according to a Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. Both men were transported by the Asbury Park Fire Department to a local hospital.

Despite lifesaving measures, Small succumbed to his injuries at 2:51 p.m.

In the Dec. 22 statement, the community leaders say the family “…would like to stress their concern about the many nonworking surveillance cameras that are posted on many street corners throughout our city. Specifically, the one on the corner of Bangs Avenue and Prospect Avenue; which could have very well captured the entire ordeal.”

Acting Police Chief Anthony Salerno said the cameras at that location would not have the shooting.

“Let’s not make street cameras overshadow the tragic death of one of our brightest young Asbury Park residents,” Salerno said. “The truth of the matter is that it was gun violence that took his life, and our job is to see to it that the perpetrator is removed from the public streets and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Harris said she was asked by the family to look into why so many surveillance cameras remain inoperable.

“…Rest assured, we as community leaders and activists will continue to address the violence and crime that once again, [is] beginning to rear its head in our city,” the Dec. 22 letter said.

Over 60 high-definition cameras approved the Asbury Park City Council earlier this year are expected to be operational within the next couple of months, Salerno said.

Below is the written statement in its entirety:

Asbury Park, New Jersey

Murder of Jamar Small

December 22, 2015

The Family of Jamar Small would like to thank everyone for their prayers and outpouring of love and support. At this time they do not wish to make any public statements due to the fact that they are distraught and still going through the grieving process. But, they would like to stress their concern about the many nonworking surveillance cameras that are posted on many street corners throughout our city. Specifically, the one on the corner of Bangs Avenue and Prospect Avenue; which could have very well captured the entire ordeal. But rest assured, we as community leaders and activists will continue to address the violence and crime that once again, [is] beginning to rear its head in our city.

Nicolle Harris, National Action Network, Asbury Park Chapter

Rev. Prophet Kevin Nunn, Pastor, Community Leader and Activist

For more information about the GoFundMe campaign, click here.

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