Heartbreaking scenes as Kamari Hughes, a seven-year-old boy killed by NYPD tow truck, is laid to rest: Family is overcome with grief as tiny casket painted with his hero Spiderman is carried away

A heartbreaking funeral was held for a seven-year-old boy who was tragically killed last month when he was struck by an NYPD tow truck.

The family of Kamari Hughes was greeted Thursday by a packed church of well-wishers at Brown Memorial Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York, including New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Attorney General Letitia James.

The boy’s uncle, DaQuan Askew, told WPIX of his fond memories of Kamari, who he said was “very uplifting, always very exciting and always thought it was play time.”

The Spiderman-obsessed child’s coffin was painted in the theme of his favorite superhero, who was loaded into a hearse and driven away by his grief-stricken mother, Taqunda.

“They took him out like a little king,” a close family friend added. ‘And he deserves that. He was a child and he didn’t get to live life.’

Kamari was struck and killed on October 26 while riding his scooter on the way to school by an NYPD tow truck driven by Stephanie Sharp, 54.

Sharp, a civilian member of the NYPD, now faces charges including failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to exercise due care.

During the tragic scenes at the Brooklyn church, Kamari’s loved ones gathered to remember the energetic youngster.

“What I remember most is him doing backflips while playing on the swing, just vividly,” Shania, another family friend, told PIX11.

She remembered him “running around the park and enjoying life, as a young boy,” adding that he was a “beautiful young boy.” Sweet, sweet, sweet. A sweet young baby.”

The funeral was attended by Mayor Adams after previously meeting Kamari’s mother Taquunda on the day her son was killed.

Adams stayed at the funeral for about 20 minutes before leaving the wake to speak privately with Taqunda.

New York Attorney General Letitia James stayed throughout the hour-long service and seemed aware that many of the boy’s loved ones were gathered for the solemn moment.

The appearance of two of the Big Apple’s most prominent figures was noted by Askew, who reflected on how his cousin left a moving legacy at such a young age.

“I have so many wonderful memories of him, he is still the light of my day for me,” he said.

‘Every time I wake up I still think: He makes me laugh. He keeps me moving. Love your loved ones. Stay close. As you can see from this situation, not everything is promised.”

Kamari, a second-grader at Brooklyn Prospect Charter School, was tragically killed on his way to school when he was struck by the oncoming NYPD tow truck as he crossed the street on his scooter.

Officials said the massive tow truck made a right turn around 7:45 a.m. and collided with the boy as he walked with his mother.

The seven-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

A witness to the impact, Tyrana Carter, told the New York Times that the boy was riding a bright green scooter while his mother pushed another child on a scooter just before the crash.

She claimed the tow truck driver appeared to be trying to ignore a yellow light when she hit the boy.

“He was just a baby full of energy, full of life,” said Carter, who knew the boy when her granddaughter went to day care with Kamari. “I saw a future for him.”

A witness who heard the crash, Mary Lynne Werlwas, said she could hear the loud commotion in the crosswalk after she started moving her car.

She said a large crowd had surrounded Taqunda as her son was covered in a white sheet, and Werlwas said the distraught mother screamed, “My baby is dead.”

Werlwas, who has lived on the streets for 24 years, added at the time: “The community, everyone is very upset.”

Antwoan Hayes, another witness to the tragedy, said Taqunda Hughes chased the tow truck down the street after the collision and yelled at the driver for killing her baby.

“The mother just started screaming at the highest pitch,” Hayes said. “That was heartbreaking.”

In a heartbreaking letter Taqunda wrote to her son, the mother repeated their “motto”: “Mama and Kamari forever.”

‘You’ve changed my life. You gave me a purpose. Joy and unconditional love. You made me a mother. You gave me a reason to live. I saw you born so peacefully,” the note read.

“You have taken my life by storm. You made me better. I saw you jumping and jumping from stairs, buildings and anywhere else.

‘I saw you jumping back and forth and climbing trees. I saw you eating, writing and so many things. I saw you taken from me.

‘I MISS YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I UNDERSTAND YOU!!! MOMMY WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER. MOM AND KAMARI FOREVER.”

The phrase “Mama and Kamari forever” was also included in the boy’s obituary, which said the mother and son were “inseparable.”

At the time of his death, Kamari was the 73rd pedestrian killed in a traffic accident in New York this year, according to the Safe Streets group Transportation Alternatives.

The incident led to a local push to improve the safety of NYPD vehicles, with City Council Member Crystal Hudson releasing a statement shortly after criticizing the NYPD for a “lack of discipline and care on the ground.”

Hudson’s statement cited a separate incident last year in which a pedestrian also died in her neighborhood after being struck by a police van.

“This morning we were devastated to hear of the tragic death of one of our youngest neighbors,” Mrs Hudson said. “This is the worst possible outcome, and yet all too often we have to take it into account.”