Greensboro community remembers three teens killed in crash

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — The Greensboro community is heartbroken over the loss of three teenagers who just graduated eighth grade.

“I thought that was some of the most ridiculous news I have ever heard in my life to die like that at that age,” said Latashia Barnes-Smith who works at Hairston Middle School.

Kenyan Saxton and Brandon Bowie were two of the three teens killed in a crash after a police chase. The pair just graduated eighth grade from HMS last month.

A memorial at the crash site on Walker Avenue near the intersection of Home Street grew throughout the day on Thursday. An educator at the boys’ school took several minutes to look at the memorial and pray over the spot where three young lives were lost.

“I was praying for their souls,” Barnes-Smith said.

Barnes-Smith was in tears as she prayed.

“Every student at that school is one of my babies,” Barnes-Smith said.

Three of them were gone in an instant.

“They are funny boys. They are sweet boys once you get to know them … Like a lot of kids in the area, bad influences,” Barnes-Smith said.

Barnes-Smith says there needs to be more resources available to the kids and their families.

“If we would have stepped in, if we would have gotten them involved, if we would have positive influences, outside resources, an ability to put their focus and attention into something else other than the life they are currently in,” Barnes-Smith said.

It’s a cycle that she is sick and tired of witnessing.

“I am frustrated because I feel like there is too many of our kids dying like this. Too many of our Black kids dying like this … I think we failed them all, and I am not just talking about those three. I am talking about the other children that we have lost,” Barnes-Smith said.

She called on the community to step up and create change.

They need a community around them … We need to support the parents as well. The parents need help,” Barnes-Smith said.

She says her prayers are with the families right now, which is something everyone up and down Walker Avenue also stands behind.

“Without even knowing these boys, it is really, really tragic. It is hard not to think about their parents, siblings, classmates,” said Anna Bowers, who lives on Walker Avenue.

Greensboro police said the crash stemmed from a police chase. It started after an officer tried to pull over a car full of teenagers for driving the wrong way on West Market Street, but they didn’t stop. Minutes later, the car crashed into a police officer in a squad car, the officer was injured and three teens died at the scene.

“It is hard not to think about their parents, siblings, classmates. They were really young,” Bowers said.

A teacher’s assistant from HMS said Kenyan and Brandon both had the best smiles and cracked the best jokes. She says they were respectful kids, and she was heartbroken that one bad decision ended their lives.

In a statement, Guilford County School said: “We are greatly saddened to learn about the loss of three of our students. crisis teams will be available to support students and staff. our hearts are with the families during this incredibly difficult time.”

Greensboro police said the officer is still being treated for serious injuries at the hospital.

“I hope he has a good recovery. I know that this is probably just as hard for him as his job to serve and protect, so I am sure it is going to be very hard for him,” Nelisa Chamorro said.

FOX8 asked Greensboro police who the car belonged to that the teenagers were driving, how fast they were going and how many officers were involved in the chase.

Greensboro police say they cannot give details during the ongoing investigation, and they will release details as soon as they become available. There is an internal investigation to make sure proper protocol was followed and there is an investigation into the crash by the State Highway Patrol.

“It is really easy to speculate, but we don’t actually know in the moments leading up what everyone was thinking … Hope for healing where there can be healing,” Bowers said.

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