A Fulton High School football player from Knoxville, Tennessee, who gave his life to protect others late last year was posthumously awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs.

Zaevion Dobson, just 15  years old at the time, was shot and killed on Dec. 17 when he shielded two friends from bullets fired in a gang-related shooting — bullets that were not intended for the teenagers, USA Today and others reported.

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Dobson’s two brothers, Zack Dobson and Markastin Taylor, took home the award Wednesday night on their slain sibling’s behalf.

Adding to the sadness, just four months after the football player’s death, his own cousin, 12-year-old JaJuan Latham, was killed in a drive-by shooting.

Dobson’s mother, Zenobia Dobson, told the story at the ESPY Awards and said to the room full of professional athletes, “We as a country need to take a stand to consider the effects of gun violence on families throughout America,” Zenobia said.

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Earlier in the evening, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Paul all stood together on the stage and renounced violence, asking other athletes to step up and act.

“We all have to do better,” James said.

Dobson is the youngest person to receive the honor since it was introduced in 1993. It recognizes individuals who “embody the spirit” of tennis legend Arthur Ashe, who dedicated his life to human rights advocacy, USA Today noted.