A 12-year-old boy died from a gunshot wound to the head in Anniston over the weekend, and now a vigil is scheduled to remember him and bring attention to his death.

The shooting happened Saturday evening at the home of Quinterrius "Pooh" Hutchings. Anniston Police Chief Shane Denham said the investigation is ongoing, but it appears Quinterrius died from an accidental, self-inflicted wound while he and a 15-year-old friend were playing with the gun.

The boy's mother, however, said she doesn't think that's what happened. "He would have never played with no gun and shot himself,'' said Margalena Bowers. "He wanted to go to the NFL. He always told me he was going to take care of his mama."

Bowers said the shooting happened about 7 p.m. at the family's Paul Street home while she had gone to McDonald's to buy food for the boys and her other children. While she was gone, she said she texted Quinterrius and told him to check the outdoor trash can to see if she had accidentally thrown something away. She received a couple of texts back during the conversation in which she was called "Ma," a term she said her son never used.

By the time she arrived home, she said the friend was running out of the house and told her Quinterrius had just shot himself in the head. He told her he tried to stop him, but couldn't.

Bowers ran first to her son's room because she said he knew he wasn't allowed in her room. "He feared me,'' she said. "He knew he would be punished if he disobeyed me."

She then went to her own bedroom where she kept her gun and found her wounded son.

"He was laying on the floor with blood and brain matter everywhere,'' she said. "I asked him if he shot himself and he shook his head no. A tear came down his face, but he couldn't talk to me. He was fighting to live."

Quinterrius was rushed to the hospital, but died a short time later. Bowers said she contacted Atlanta radio host Gerald Emerson Rose, who will be the keynote speaker at Thursday's vigil, because she thinks not enough attention is being given to her son's death.

"I need and want answers,'' she said. "I want justice for my baby."

Quinterrius attended C.E. Hanna Elementary School. She said his family and friends are taking his death hard. "He was just an all-around good kid,'' she said. "Everybody is hurting. My baby left an impression on everybody that laid eyes on him."

Rose, founder of the New Order National Human Rights Organization, said he hopes to find out more about the ongoing investigation. "It's sad,'' he said. "It's real sad."

The vigil is scheduled to be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Zinn Park.