Two short years ago, Kihary Blue led Henninger High School to football and basketball glory. Now, at 19, his life is over.
Blue died on Wednesday from injuries suffered on Nov. 26 when he was shot sitting in a car near the interchange of Interstates 81 and 690 in Syracuse. Sent to the hospital in critical condition for his wounds, Blue never recovered.
A day after Blue died, in response to his family’s wishes, several of Blue’s organs were removed so that they could be donated to possibly save the lives of others needing transplants.
Syracuse Police chief Frank Fowler and Blue’s father, Otis, said that Kihary was not part of the “Bricktown” gang, members of which were allegedly in the car in which Blue was riding the night he was shot.
Two days later, in what was alleged to be retaliation for Blue’s shooting, police say a Bricktown member fired at a parked minivan, killing 20-month-old Rashad Walker Jr.
Kihary Blue graduated from Henninger in 2009. As a senior, Blue was quarterback on the Black Knights’ football team that beat West Genesee 44-27 in the Carrier Dome for the Section III Class AA championship.
In the winter, Blue played point guard for Henninger’s boys basketball team, which reached the sectional AA finals at Manley Field House before losing to Christian Brothers Academy in a 76-75 overtime classic where Blue scored 31 points.
After the season, Blue was named first-team All-Central New York, and he graduated in June 2009. Blue attended Guilford Technical Community College last year, then came home.
Otis Blue said his son was planning, in January, to transfer to Monroe Community College in Rochester before he died.
