Basketball tournament brings awareness and honors victim in recent Topeka shooting

TOPEKA (KSNT) - A local church and family in Topeka hosted an inaugural basketball tournament to honor Frank Austin III, 15, who was killed Monday, August 5.

The Tennessee Town Basketball Tournament was held at King's Court in Central Topeka Saturday, August 10, honoring the life of Austin III.

Friends and family of all ages participated. Event organizers combined the tournament and A Night Out Against Crime to bring the community together for awareness and honor.

"We have always had a heart for the community," Ron Lassiter, one of the vent organizers, said. So we felt the best way to merge with a Night out against crime. Do something to get the kids together, the community to have fun instead of being out in the streets and having nothing to do." 

Austin III was honored before the game with everyone gathering in a circle for a prayer. The crime is still under investigation.

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