SAN DIEGO -- It happened at Louisiana Street and Polk Avenue, on January 21, 1995. A 14-year-old boy who wanted to be a gang member changed a number of people's lives forever.

Tony Hicks, now 26, admitted in 1995 to firing the fatal shot that killed 20-year-old Tariq Khamisa, a pizza delivery driver.

"I was totally paralyzed of coming up with any original thought; I was numb," said Azim Khamisa, Tariq's father.

Azim Khamisa spoke with 10News shortly after his son's funeral service. But in the months that followed, something extraordinary happened.

"This 14 year old who shot my son was not born a gangster," said Khamisa.

Instead of the crime pulling people apart, it actually brought everyone involved together, and the Tariq Khamisa Foundation was born.

"Yeah, I think a lot of people were shocked at Azim. Azim Khamisa saw victims on both sides of the gun," said Suzanne Bacon, a foundation staff member.

Khamisa and Hicks' grandfather, Ples Felix, pledged to work together, and by their example, reach out to the schools and in the community that violence is not the way, no matter what age.

"Forget about the age. What can we do for this not to happen again?" said Mayra Nunez, a foundation staff member.

Felix keeps in touch with his grandson by visiting at least twice a year.

But over the years, Khamisa and Felix have managed to reach thousands of children with their story hoping that what happened to them won't happen to anyone else.

Hicks was sent straight to prison following his conviction.

Today, convicted minors stay in the juvenile system until they are adults.

Hicks will not be eligible for parole until 2027.