Matthew Carter, the 17-year-old Comeaux High School student athlete shot in an attempted armed robbery, died Wednesday morning.

"Thank you to all of our family, friends, teammates and the community for holding Matthew in prayer during the devastating tragedy our family has endured," a statement issued by his family read. "These last few days we have been surrounded by the most heartfelt compassion and care, there is no way we can ever repay what everyone's done for us."

Since Matthew Carter's family identified him as the shooting victim over the weekend, the community has rallied with prayers on social media, pints of blood donated at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, moments of silence at Ovey Comeaux High athletic events and thousands of dollars raised through GoFundMe and a local car show in his name.

"Matthew... I am so proud of you. You fought so hard baby, so so hard. Please God," his 26-year-old sister Nichole Carter wrote Wednesday on Facebook.

"Our lives will be forever changed," the family's statement read. "Please hold us in your hearts and prayers as we begin the hardest journey we will ever travel. Pray with us as we remember our beautiful boy Matthew and all he means to so many."

A life cut short

Carter's relatives said he was shot after two teens tried to steal the Camaro he was sitting in. Lafayette Police responded at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday to reports of a shooting on North Myers Drive.

Police arrested two unidentified males, ages 13 and 14, on charges of attempted first-degree murder, one count of armed robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, according to a news release.

The Lafayette Police Department upgraded the charges Wednesday for the 13 and 14-year-old boys who were arrested in connection with Carter's death. They now face first-degree murder charges in addition to the one count each of armed robbery and one count each of conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Lafayette Police said the motive for the shooting was a robbery.

The shooting happened on North Meyers Road, not far from the traffic of Ambassador Caffery. The road is spotted with a few homes and the Coaches Plaza apartment complex where the shooting occurred.

Makaela Kelly, who’s lived in the complex for nearly a year, was working a late night shift when an off-duty manger who lives nearby called to check on her.

"He said he saw all the police near my place and wanted to make sure I was OK," she said. "When I got home there was police tape everywhere."

The area is typically quiet, Kelly said. So the shooting came as a shock.

"Everyone’s shook up about it," the 20-year-old said. "There are families who live here. And little kids. It’s very upsetting."

This is the first homicide that law enforcement agents are reportedly investigating in Lafayette Parish in 2020. Last year, there were 18 deaths investigated as homicides.

Remembering his giving spirit

The Carter family said the teen, described by others as friendly and caring, will continue his service to others.

"He was always there for someone in need and now even in death," the family's statement read. "He will continue to give to others by donating his organs, making him not only our hero but also a hero to many others."

That giving spirit is what he was being remembered for Wednesday, as Comeaux students told stories about their lost classmate.

They trickled in and out of the school building to the back parking lot where a parking space had been spray painted with "MATT #31 #11" (his football and soccer jersey numbers) in Spartan red and blue.

Placed on the painted spot were real and fake flowers along with items representing Carter's favorites — a toy Camaro, cans of cotton candy-flavored Bang energy drink and a soccer ball covered in classmates' signatures in Sharpie.

The students crowded around the spot and talked about how Carter was always late to first hour and how he'd help a stranger.

Connor Brodnax, a junior at Comeaux, said Matthew helped him last year without even knowing him.

"One time I was feeling real down, crying in the hallway, he asked if I was OK, checked on me," Connor said. "He told me everything was gonna be all right. He didn’t know me before that."

Such an act wasn't out of character for Carter. His friend Jacob Hugonin, 17, told a similar story. Hugonin said he brought someone to see Carter in the hospital who said Carter had been the only one to help him when all his books spilled out of his backpack.

"People walked by and did nothing, but here comes Matt and he helps him pick them all up," Hugonin said.

That's the kind of person Carter was, fellow senior Cassandra Duck said. They met as sixth-graders at Youngsville Middle and became close friends, she said.

"He was the sweetest. He didn’t care who you were or what you looked like he’d help you. He was somebody you wanted to be around," Duck said.

Community gives back to those affected by his loss

Stories like these reached school district administration. Interim Superintendent Irma Trosclair heard from students while on campus Tuesday.

"I have to say, I didn’t know Matt, but he must have been a remarkable young man," Trosclair said. "The comments students said about him were all very impressive."

She said additional counselors and social workers from across the district are at Comeaux for any student or employee who wants to talk to someone. They will be available as long as school administration says they are necessary, she said.

Carter's character is what prompted his classmate Tristan Welch to create an online fundraising campaign through GoFundMe to contribute to his medical bills.

"Every single day he comes sit by me, ask me how I'm doing, and makes sure I'm OK and if not he'll pick me up and I look forward to that everyday," Tristan wrote on the GoFundMe description.

"Matthew is such a sweet soul, never was mean to anyone, and always wanted to meet new people. He never turns anyone away no matter what they look like, sound like, etc. He loves giving hugs and having a big smile on his face, always there to pick you up no matter who you are or what you are going through."

The campaign has raised more than $8,400, with some giving as little as $5 or $10. Some donors commented to offer prayers and well wishes, sometimes including the hashtag #31strong to represent his football jersey number.

"Such a tragedy to such a warm and upcoming young man. Our prayers are with you," wrote Craig and Sandy Girouard.

"This should have never happened. I am praying for Matthew," Dean Simon wrote.

The GoFundMe account creator Tristan knows Carter from school, sharing first hour with him two years in a row.

Others in the community came together to support the family through one of Carter's loves — cars. Twin brothers Max and Alex Smith, friends of Carter, put on the show in honor of Carter's love for cars, an interest all three share.

They all met during their freshman year at Comeaux High. Max and Alex Smith are homeschooling for their senior year, but they’d stayed in touch with Carter. They went to car shows together and bonded over both having Camaros, Max Smith said.

"He supported me in everything I did with my car," said Max, 18. "We bonded through our car."

So when it came time to supporting Carter and his family, all of whom also love cars, Smith thought a car meet was the way to go.

"What better way to remember Matt and support his family than with something he loved to do?" Smith said. "I didn’t expect it to get as big as it did."

He said the "meet for Matt" benefit car show raised more than $700 for the family Tuesday night.

His sister, Nichole, thanked everyone for the support in a Facebook post Wednesday.

"The turn out had us lost for words," she wrote. "I keep telling myself that nothing else can shock me and then something happens and my heart is warmed all over again. To everyone who came out and braved the cold with us for Matt... thank you. I know it’s just words but we mean them from the bottom of the heart. We love you all, thank y’all for loving our Matt."

Nichole Carter, 26, said the family brought out their cars — a Camaro, Charger and Mustang.

"We know Matt would be right beside us making it roar as well," she wrote.

Smith said he was happy they could help, since he knows Matthew Carter would have done the same.

"He loved everybody. If they needed him he was there," Smth said. "I’m gonna miss him. We can’t do what we used to do anymore."

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Nichole Carter also thanked Cicis Pizza on Ambassador Caffery for the food and allowing customers to donate to the family.

"The Carter family and friends are forever stunned by you guys hospitality and kindness," she wrote. "The energy was so fun we actually ate, which if anyone’s been in a situation like this... you know how hard that is. My parents also enjoyed their pizza."

Other support has come in the form of blood donations. The waiting room of Our Lady of Lourdes' blood donation center filled Tuesday with teenagers, college students and older adults — all waiting to give in Matthew’s name.

Students signed a soccer ball for Carter's family, as he played for the Spartans. His dad coaches the team. His teammates observed a moment of silence for him at its game Tuesday night at Barbe High School in Lake Charles.

A candlelight prayer vigil remains planned for 4 p.m. Thursday at the Comeaux High football stadium.

"We will stand strong," Comeaux High defensive line coach Dwight Lewis said. Matthew played defensive end and linebacker as well as special teams.

"May your heart and soul find peace and comfort," Lewis wrote on Facebook. "Peace, Prayers and Blessings, Wishing you peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in your hearts. May you be comforted by the outpouring of love surrounding you."