The devastated family of an 11-year-old upstate New York boy who was shot and killed by another youngster is speaking out for the first time, pledging support for a state anti-gun violence program.

“On behalf of our family, we want to thank the City of Newburgh and all police agencies involved in the apprehension of the shooter,” relatives of the tragic boy, identified by kin as Matthew Degroat, said in a statement to News12 Westchester on Wednesday.

“We send a huge thank you to the SNUG group, its community partners and everyone for their continued prayers and support in our time of need,” they said. “Mathew may be gone, but he will never be forgotten.” 3

SNUG, an acronym for Should Never Use Guns that spells “guns” backwards — is a statewide anti-gun program founded in 2009 a

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