'His Name Will Not Go In Vain': Father Of Slain 6-Year-Old King Carter

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- It's been one year since 6-year-old King Carter was shot and killed in the crossfire of a shootout in the apartment complex where he lived.

His family, devastated by the loss, has thrown himself into a campaign against the gun violence that took his only son.

"I knew to the second that it really made a year and I tried to embrace every second of that and the feeling is just overwhelming," said Santonio Carter, King Carter's father.

King Carter was caught in the crossfire of a shootout on his way to get candy. On Monday his family and members of the community gather to honor his memory.

"I haven't been able to find sleep in the last couple of days closer to the year marker and like I told them it's not an anniversary," said Santonio. "An anniversary is something celebratory.  It's a one-year marking of the slaying of my son to senseless gun violence."

The little boy's family is holding prayer and balloon release in his honor near this mural at a gas station on 54th Street and NW 17th avenue.

"When we'd come down for football proactive, he'd make sure to stop off at this gas station," said Santonio. "He'd get his whole team candy."

Santonio says he's always been active in his community and the death of his son has just forced him to step up his activism even more.

He says proceeds from his "save our kings and queens" T-shirts are providing some much-needed help.

"They can call my phone if they need some shoes or they think about going to rob somebody or they got a prom coming up or their mom doesn't like them," he said. "So this it says, "Save our kings and queens and what this shirt says it literally do that.  It save our kings and queens."

Monday marks, not an anniversary, but an annual event to remind a community that the violence must stop so no family has had to go through what King Carter's family has gone through.

"Our son King Carter. His name will not go in vain we just can't let his name die," said Santonio.