OAKLAND, Calif. -- The mother of an 18 year old Oakland man rocked back and forth and clung to a pastor on Monday night as she tried to find some comfort at a prayer vigil to remember her son.

James Michael Thomas and a 21-year-old friend were shot at 9th and Kirkham streets last Wednesday night. The two men were on the street, just steps from Thomas's home, when someone opened fire, spraying a hundred bullets into the street. Both men where hit. Thomas died on Saturday. His friend remains in the hospital in critical condition.

At the vigil, Thomas's mother, Regina Thomas, struggled to understand why her son was killed.

"If there was a misunderstanding or you didn't like my son, you didn't have to hurt him or kill him like that," she said.

She said she is now praying for the young man who is fighting for his life in a hospital across town.

Police haven't arrested anyone for Thomas's killing or two other homicides over the weekend. Investigators say they often know who's responsible for killings, but the reluctance of witnesses to come forward is their biggest hurdle.

Lt. Ersie Joyner says he wants people to know if they do come forward police will do all they can to make sure they are protected.

"But until that happens," said Joyner, "we're going to keep seeing these (homicide) numbers rise."

There have now been 86 homicides in Oakland this year, compared to 84 at the same time last year.

Thomas's family is concerned that the young nephews and nieces he left behind will also fall victim to the streets.

Pastor Sandra Thomas of the Lord of the Harvest Church in West Oakland says she learned from her own mistakes and urges young people not to learn from the streets.

She says Thomas attended her church and even participated in a recent anti-violence event. Thomas's cousin, Verdie Thomas, urged the neighbhorhood children to learn to respect human life.

"You can't replace a life," she said. "It's senseless because you're mad at me, or you dont' like me. Nobody owns these streets."

Regina Thomas, who must now bury her son, said the violence must stop.

"Whatever it takes to save the young people we need to do that," she said. "There has got to be a better way."