ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The family of Zy’Jae St. Pierre, a Rochester boy who fell from the Andrews Street Bridge in June, gathered to honor him on what would have been his sixth birthday.
RELATED: Search of Genesee River continues after boy, 5, fell in; Community members help (June 1)
News10NBC’s Marsha Augustin spoke with Zy’Jae’s grandmother Latoraya Bryan at the site where family honored him. And she also spoke with Zy’Jae’s mom’s family, who for the first time, are speaking about the pain of loosing him.
Bryan, said the family has been leaning on each other through their love for Zy’Jae.
“The family came out here and we put out his six-year-old balloons and we hung out for a little while talking about him and you know — laughing then start crying,” Bryan said.
Bryan shared that every time she walks over the bridge, she hopes to see a sign of Zy’Jae.
“Even coming down here it still hurts but we are trying to hold on for good news that we find his little body,” Bryan said. Balloons tied on the bridge represented Zy’Jae’s favorite colors and cartoon.
His cousin and little sister often remember the fun times they had playing with him and miss him.
“She brings him up a lot. Sometimes she starts crying, she says she misses him. Knowing that she was actually here and saw everything,” Bryan said.
In a statement, Zy’Jae’s mom’s family and grandmother, Shantanel, expressed the family’s pain.
” I told my grandson, he’s my favorite guy and he would say, yeah nanna, I know I’m Zy’Jae, the best!, No words can describe our pain especially for his mother. He is so loved and missed! He is our hearts. Our handsome guy would’ve been 6-years-old November 23, 2025. We want everyone to remember his name and the Andrews Street Bridge to be named after him, Zy’Jae Isiah St. Pierre.”
The family continues to seek closure.
“I called the captain and I asked them if they have given up and the answer was no they haven’t given up so that’s a plus for us,” Bryan said.
Zy’Jae’s body has not been recovered, but the Rochester Police Department continues to investigate.
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