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Blake wrestled with personal issues stemming from a childhood head injury that had left his face partially paralyzed, and a traffic accident when he was 10 in which his left arm was badly burned, Harris said.

His arm had severe scarring and he underwent reconstructive surgery. He wore a flesh-colored band from his wrist to above his elbow.

Harris acknowledged that Blake had been involved in previous tagging incidents.

Despite that, Blake was on track to graduate in June and had made his mark at the school as a gifted artist.

"He was one of our top painters," said DeWayne Mason, who teaches art at Patriot High. "For a high school student, he was doing college-level painting."

"He had some personal demons," Mason said. "But he was an easygoing, laid back, thoughtful kind of a kid."

Harris said Blake went out Friday night with some friends. His mother text messaged him when he missed his 1 a.m. curfew. He replied that he was going to drop off some friends and then head home.

Harris said the family believes he was with three other boys and have tried to contact them, but they have not called back.

"People who knew Blake over his lifetime know that he was a good boy who, unfortunately, made a bad decision," Harris said. "We've all made bad choices as youths during our lifetime."

I did some hair-curling stuff when I was young.

Prayers for the family.