Malden , Kanawha County , West Virginia

Funeral arrangements have been set for a little boy hit and killed by a car while trying to save his mother.

11-year-old Jahlil Clements was hit by a car Saturday night on I-77.

His mother had stopped in the road because police say she was being beaten by her boyfriend, Ethan Chic-Colbert, and then was dragged along the highway.

That's when police say Jahlil jumped out to get his mom help and was hit. He later died from serious head injuries.

Jahlil's funeral will be Saturday, March 10th at Abundant Life Ministries, located at 1534 Washington Street East in Charleston. The service will begin at 12pm.

Malden Elementary is hosting a spaghetti dinner fundraiser to help Jahlil's family pay for his funeral expenses. It will be held Monday, March 12th from 4pm to 7pm. The cost is $5 per person. Any extra money will be used to create a memorial in Jahlil's name.
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There is an empty seat in the 5th grade classroom at Malden Elementary School, and hearts are empty too.

"We're supporting our students, that's our priority today, supporting and helping them through this emotional time," Principal Julie Sayre says.

For many kids this is something they may have never experienced before, the loss of a friend.

Jahlil Clements was hit by a car Saturday night on I-77. His mom had stopped in the road because police say she was being beaten by her boyfriend, Ethan Chic-Colbert, and then was dragged along the highway. That's when police say Jahlil, at just 11-years-old, jumped out to get his mom help. He was trying to get someone to stop, when he was hit. He later died from serious head injuries.

"It's devastating," Sayre says. "He was a wonderful little boy, I think about his smiling face. Every morning he would come around the corner and he would smile at me."

And by stepping in the school, it's easy to see Jahlil's short life has left a lasting memory. He's being remembered through notes all around the school by his teachers, friends and classmates for his big smile, his talents at basketball and football and as a hero.

"He was a hero. And I think that's a good memory that all of the students have of him, they were talking this morning saying that he was a hero," Sayre says.

One little boy wrote, "You were my best friend and you were just trying to save your mom... But i want you to come back."

The sad reality is, that's not going to happen and now they're left only with his memory.

Jahlil's mom's boyfriend, Chic-Colbert is charged with four counts of child neglect creating the risk of injury or death, because there were three other kids inside the car.

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