Kentrel Miller went to Western Hills Mall Friday to get a haircut and do a little shopping.

The rising Fairfield High Preparatory School junior texted his mother to show her a pair of shoes he had bought as part of an outfit he was putting together for Father’s Day, which he planned to spend with his 1-year-old daughter, Jah’Kenzli.

Thirty minutes later, Chelsia Miller received a phone call that Kentrel – the oldest of Miller’s five children – had been shot.

“I was in denial,’’ Miller said. “Then they told me what he was wearing, and I knew it was him.”

Miller and numerous other family members rushed to the scene. When Miller arrived, she saw her son in the parking lot of the Fairfield mall covered with a white sheet.

“I had to see that,’’ she said. “That’s when I knew he was gone.”

The gunfire erupted just before 3:30 p.m. Friday. Witnesses said Kentrel had just left the barbershop inside the mall and was walking through the parking lot when he was approached by the three masked suspects.

It wasn’t immediately clear how many shots were fired, but investigators put down more than 70 evidence markers. Witnesses reported hearing what they believed to be automatic gunfire.

Sheriff’s Lt. Joni Money said the young victim was shot multiple times by the gunmen. Kentrel was pronounced dead on the scene.

Following the shooting, Money said, the suspects left the area in a dark-colored sedan.

Miller described her firstborn as intelligent, smart, strong and a leader. He loved to dress well and was looking forward to joining the U.S. Army after high school.

“He loved his family, and he loved his baby,’’ she said. “They look just alike.”

She said he was always laughing, and never sad.

“He was everything to me,’’ she said.

To say Miller had a rough 24 hours following her son’s killing would be an understatement. But, she said, God gave her some peace on Sunday.

“God gave me 16 years with him,’’ she said. “It could have gone a whole other way. I prefer him to be at peace instead of on a machine where he couldn’t breathe.”

“I’m glad God called him home instead of leaving him in a horrific way,’’ she said. “I haven’t been OK, but I’m better today.”

Miller said she doesn’t know who killed or son or why. Of course, the streets talk but she’s not focusing on that right now.

“I can’t go off that,’’ she said. “I can’t point any fingers.”

Miller said she is focusing on funeral arrangements. A GoFundMe has been set up by a family friend to help with the service. Donations can be made here.

But there’s no doubt, she said, that she wants to know who gunned down Kentrel.

“It’s very important for me to know,’’ Miller said. “It won’t bring him back (but) I’ll get justice.”

“It won’t help just my family but maybe the next family won’t have to experience this,’’ she said.

Miller said something needs to be done about automatic weapons.

“I want the public to get together and try to talk to someone about these automatic weapons and get them off the streets of Fairfield, Bessemer, Birmingham,’’ she said. “They not only hurt him, they could have affected more families.”

Miller said she forgives those who killed Kentrel.

“I’m not fixing to hold a grudge,’’ she said. “At first I felt like that, but God gave me peace today. I just want justice.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777 or the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, 205-325-1450, Option 2.