Charlotte group collects suits for teen boys in honor of 17-year-old killed

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - A local group is collecting suits this weekend to give to teen boys in honor of Cayden Casanova, a Charlotte teen killed in a shooting in January 2025.

The event is called “Suit Up for Change.”

Who was Cayden Casanova?

Casanova was 17 when he was shot and killed in what police called a robbery in north Charlotte on Jan. 18, 2025.

The two people accused in his killing are also teenagers. The shooting involving young men rattled the community. Family, friends and classmates honored Casanova at a candlelight vigil.

Mark Raley, founder of Young Men United, a mentorship group that works with Charlotte teens, said the vigil stood out from others because of the number of young people who attended.

“A lot of teenagers came and supported who loved this young man,” Raley said. “And it really hit me because I’m an advocate for teenagers as well.”

Honoring Casanova with suits

Since Casanova’s death, Raley has worked alongside the teen’s family as they grieve and work to get justice. Oct. 28 would have been Casanova’s 19th birthday. His family and Raley wanted to honor him by giving back to the community.

“Cayden liked to dress,” Raley said. “He liked to suit up and liked to look good. So the best way to honor him is to have some suits and to look good to represent Cayden this weekend.”

Raley said giving young men an opportunity to dress up in a suit “brings about a changed mentality.” He listed walking across the stage at graduation, wearing a suit at a wedding and wearing a suit to a business meeting as examples.

Raley said Casanova’s mother will join him Saturday, Oct. 31 to help collect suit donations for the youth.

“So every suit that we collect and every suit we give out to young men, they would know they’re wearing a suit in honor of Cayden Casanova, who had purpose in his life, who had dignity in his life, who had ideas in his life and want to live on,” Raley said. “He may not be here now, but his legacy will live through wearing those suits.”

Event details

Suit Up for Change is Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Hill at 2425 Lester Street in Charlotte.

People can drop off suit donations, but activities for youth will also take place, including mentorship sessions, basketball and free lunch.

Families whose sons need a suit can reach out to Young Men United by scanning the QR code in this flyer: