Teen killed on birthday an hour after posting he was happy to turn 17

Armond Latimore, of St. Louis, was shot on his birthday on Saturday, pictured with his mother. Photo / Facebook

A Missouri boy was fatally shot in the head on his birthday, an hour after he posted on Facebook saying: 'I'm just glad I can say I made it to see 17'.

Armond Latimore, of St. Louis, was shot around 1pm on Saturday as he was picking up food from a nearby restaurant.

About an hour prior he shared a status online saying: 'Thru all the bulls***I den been thru I'm just glad I can say I made it to see 17'.

Just an hour before he was shot in the head he posted on Facebook writing: 'Thru all the bulls***I den been thru I'm just glad I can say I made it to see 17'.

He was pronounced dead in the hospital following a gunshot to the head.

Police have not released information on a suspect or motive behind the shooting and homicide detective are investigating the incident.

His mother Chandra Payne, 38, said she went to a nearby store to buy ice cream to go with her son's birthday cake when she received the heart-breaking call.

'He told me that he wanted ice cream. I went to Save A Lot and three minutes later I received the call,' she said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Victim: Police have not released information on a suspect or motive behind the shooting

His mother said people have pointed out images on his Facebook posing with wads of cash and an alleged gun, but she maintains that he was a hardworking kid.

His mother maintains he never owned a gun and the money belonged to someone else. Photo / Facebook

He was killed outside chop suey restaurant Bing Lau.

He was a sophomore at Vashon High School. After learning of the shooting, Payne said she found a paper he wrote for school on his dresser.

In it he wrote about a bully who wouldn't stop harassing him, but she says he never told her about any problems. His father and siblings didn't know about the bully either.

Payne said people have pointed out to her photos on her son's Facebook page, posing with cash and a gun.

But she maintains he never owned a gun and the money belonged to someone else.

'He was always a helping-hand child. He would cut grass, wash your car or sell water. He loved music and loved money and always made it the right way,' she said on her son.

Friends and family have shared tributes for the teenager writing: 'You will never be forgotten'.

One Facebook user wrote: 'RIP to Armond Latimore who lost his life this past weekend, on his birthday'

Never forgotten: Another user said 'You'd be the last person I'd think to leave so soon'

As tributes poured in on Facebook, his mother said that she found a paper in his room where he wrote about a bully, but she never knew he was having trouble

Two hours before he was shot, Latimore was helping out a family friend's daughter move into her dorm at Harris-Stowe State University.

'I can't believe that a couple hours later he was dead. That's a crying shame,' 60-year-old Harvey Collins said.

Family and friends took to Facebook to share condolences to Latimore's family.

'My heart is broken. Still can't believe this is real. You will never be forgotten Armond Latimore. Chandra Payna I love you so much cousin. Stay strong,' one relative wrote.

'I still can't believe this. You'd be the last person I'd think to leave so soon,' a friend shared.