Man shot by teenagers dies in the same hospital where he had just become a father

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Tyrese Garvin's newborn twins lay down next to him as he took his final breaths on his bed at University of Louisville Hospital.

Garvin, 20, was pronounced dead and taken off life support Friday around 3 p.m., said community activist Christopher 2X, who was speaking on behalf of the family.

Garvin was shot Sunday night while walking in the Smoketown neighborhood, according to Louisville Metro Police.

2X said Garvin had just finished visiting his newborn twins, a boy and a girl, who were about a week old at the time.

The twins were born prematurely and remain at University of Louisville Hospital, where Garvin was also taken after he was shot, according to 2X.

Earlier in the week and before family members decided to take Garvin off life support, 2X said the mother decided to take her newborn twins from the maternity ward up to the ninth floor of University of Louisville Hospital, where the intensive care unit is located.

There, they rested next to the dying father, whom they never got to truly see.

Outside of the Chestnut Street Family YMCA on Saturday, 2X held up a photo of the newborn twins while he was surrounded by young members of Balling for a Cause, a group that rapper Master P formed in 2018 to help get at-risk children off the streets.

"From everything I've heard from nurses and everything, they're going to be some strong, little twins," 2X told his Balling for a Cause members Saturday. "(But) they don't have a daddy no more. He's gone."

The police have arrested three male teenagers, ages 14 to 17, who allegedly carried out the violent act. The incident is part of a rash of shootings that have left 12 dead this month and many more injured.

"He was just a random choice that these teenagers chose to shoot," 2X said. "This kid was loving life, and there’s no reason for him to be shot like that."

Garvin was a 2017 Atherton High School Graduate. He had recently landed a job at GE, according to 2X.

2X said members of Balling for a Cause are now encouraging community members to donate clothing and other baby items throughout the month of July to support the mother of the newborn twins.

Balling for a Cause members are also distributing flyers that include resources and information on early childhood education.

"We just think this the right way to respond to shooters, is to let them know that ... education is the ultimate tool to beat violence." 2X said. "Nobody can convince me otherwise.

"I've been out here too long. I've dealt with too many families," he added.

Since the city-county merger in 2003, 2X said Louisville has lost over 1,300 people to deadly shootings.

Nearly 4,000 people have been wounded by gunfire in that same stretch of time, 2X said, adding that University of Louisville Hospital currently has "floor after floor" of gunshot victims.

Garvin's family is also raising money for medical bills and funeral expenses. To donate, you can click here.

Contributing: Billy Kobin.

Follow Ben Tobin on Twitter: @TobinBen.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Man shot by teenagers dies in the same hospital where he had just become a father