Days before a shooting that killed a 23-year-old man and wounded his 4-year-old son, he told a relative, “I would never let anything happen to my sons. I would die first.”

Jeriko Boykin Sr.’s family doesn’t know the details of what happened Sunday night in St. Paul, but they said he was a good father and they believe he would do everything possible to protect his son when gunfire erupted. The boy was shot in the foot.

Police responded about 5:15 p.m. Sunday to the West Side, where they found the the father and son inside an overturned sport-utility vehicle in a residential parking lot on South Wasbasha Street near Congress Street.

Paramedics took both to Regions Hospital. Boykin, who was shot in the head, died overnight. Police said the boy has minor injuries.

“Investigators are trying to determine the facts as to what led to the vehicle being crashed and who was responsible for the shooting,” said Sgt. Mike Ernster, a St. Paul police spokesman.

In an emotional plea Monday, Boykin’s mother called for no retaliation in the killing of Boykin, who was known as Riko.

“They need to know that they have to stop here,” said Rosalynda Boykin. “They took my son, out of jealousy, I don’t know. … Look at what has happened. That’s my only boy, my baby and he’s gone and they took his life saving his son. … This can’t go on. It’s too much, it’s too much, but stop. Please, stop it.”

His homicide was the 23rd homicide of the year in St. Paul, nine of which have happened since Sept. 2.

Boykin, who also was the father of a 6-month-old boy, asked those closest to him to look after his children if anything ever happened to him, said Catherine Harris. She helped raise Boykin and also referred to him as her son.

Boykin made the remark because of the recent gun violence in St. Paul, according to Harris. He wasn’t a fearful person, though, said Jaralyn Roberts, one of Boykin’s older sisters.

“He was just so sweet, loving and kind,” she said. “His heart was huge.”

BOY RECOVERING WITH FAMILY

Boykin was visiting family and then heading to another relative’s home when he was shot Sunday, according to Harris.

“His first priority would have been protecting his son,” Roberts said. “He loved his boys. He would do anything for his boys.”

Boykin’s 4-year-old son is doing OK and is recovering with family, Roberts said.

Police have not announced arrests and are asking anyone with information to call them at 651-266-5650.

Preliminary information indicated Boykin’s shooting did not appear random, according to Ernster.

Roberts said what matters about her brother’s life was “he was trying to work towards and his future. His past didn’t matter.”

Ramsey County prosecutors charged Boykin in May with illegal possession of a firearm; he pleaded not guilty and the case was ongoing. He wasn’t allowed to have a gun because he was convicted in connection to a 2015 shooting in Cambridge, in which a 43-year-old was critically injured.

Roberts said her brother wanted to change his life and she saw him making changes, but she also thinks there are too many obstacles for people trying to get jobs and housing when they have a criminal record.

“What matters is he was a great person and this needs to be a wake-up call for our community to come together and stop this violence,” Roberts said.