NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Across the street from where a 15-year-old boy was shot and killed Tuesday morning, a neighbor’s yard sign, “Please stop shooting,” is a message resonating with many parents in the area.
NNPD: 15-year-old dead after shooting at intersection of 16th St. and Garden Dr. “This has to stop, the gun violence has to stop,” said a woman who lives nearby who did not want to be identified. “Someone needs to do something. … Parents, come out here and stand with your children. Find out who is doing these things. Everybody, all the adults need to get involved with this so it can stop, so that we can do something about it.”
Neighbors here said they were shocked that a shooting happened here at all, let alone to a 15-year-old boy at a school bus stop.
“All parents, wake up because now it’s getting closer to home,” said resident Shaun Sweat.
Another resident, Jay Sams, said that “it’s sad. He’s in school and didn’t get to have a future.”
Sams said lots of families are raising their kids in this neighborhood. Our team saw officers helping walk children to their respective school bus stops as investigators worked to piece together what happened. The neighbors heard somewhere between three to five gunshots.
“Sound was coming right outside my living room window,” Sams said, recalling what happened. “I came outside, seeing the school bus and school-aged kids outside. A lot of people screaming saying, ‘Oh God.’ A young individual on the ground.”
The school bus was still parked behind the crime tape more than an hour after the shooting. An officer on scene said students were still on board. They were safe, with squad cars and police all over the crime scene. 10 On Your Side news crews noticed officers putting evidence markers next to things like a loose sneaker in the road.
“All parents, wake up because now it’s getting closer to home,” Sweat said.
Community advocates, residents and law enforcement agree that gun violence remains a big problem, especially in our youth. That’s why Troy Ketchmore and his sister founded the organization Ketchmore Kids Inc., 20 years ago. Troy serves as the director of programs.
“It’s heartbreaking, that’s why we do the work we do,” Ketchmore said, adding, “catch more kids than the street, catch more kids than prisons, catch more kids than the guns.”
He said they strive to change the mindset of youth in our community, providing them with resources and conflict resolution plans, all things 16th Street residents say are needed.
“I’m scared for them just walking to school right now, I was thinking about taking the rest of the week off and have them stay home,” Sweat said.
Law enforcement came out to hear those concerns and hosted a care walk for residents, vowing to be there during this time of need.
“You’ll see myself and others out here all week in this community,” said Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew. “They matter to me.”
Drew said his officers will periodically come back to the area just to check on neighbors. Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call the Crime Line at 1-(888) LOCK-U-UP.
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