The mother of a central Alabama teen shot to death last week while outside talking with friends is pleading anyone with information to come forward.

Dallas Johnson, a 16-year-old freshman at Central High School in Coosa County, was killed nearly one week ago.

On Monday, Central Alabama Crime Stoppers announced an increase of reward money being offered for information that leads to justice in Dallas’s slaying.

The agency is offering $1,000 for information leading to the identity of the suspect. Dallas’s family is now offering $10,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

“It’s been hard, real hard,’’ said Dallas’s grieving mother, Shirley Averette.

Sylacauga police Chief Kelley Johnson said officers responded Tuesday, March 7, to the Drew Court public housing complex on a report of shots fired.

When they arrived on the scene, they found the young victim in the roadway. He had suffered gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead on the scene.

Investigators say the slaying did not occur on school property, however, the shooting did occur after school had been dismissed and school buses were in the area of the fatal shooting.

School officials were notified by police for safety precautions, and as a result, all school-related afternoon activities were suspended at the time of the incident.

Averette said her son was talking with friends when a vehicle drove by and someone from inside that vehicle opened fire. She said she never expected her son to be killed in an act of violence.

“He was a good child,’’ Averette said. “Everybody loved him.”

Dallas loved football and basketball.

“He liked playing with the little kids,’’ she said. “Anytime they wanted to play some kind of sports, he would play with them.”

Averette said she is devastated by his killing and wants justice in his death. She said she does not know if the shooter was aiming for Dallas or just randomly shooting.

“I just want somebody to speak up,’’ she said. “If you know something, say something.”

Anyone with information asked to call Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867) or 1-833-AL1-STOP. Tips can also be made via the P3-tips app.