PORTSMOUTH, Va. — On Thursday, a neighborhood is remembering a 17-year-old boy who was shot and killed in Portsmouth.
This shooting and teenage gun violence was also a hot topic for Portsmouth mayoral candidates in a forum that night, too.
“Please stop hurting each other,” said one concerned homeowner.
Residents on Woodstock Street are concerned and worried about their neighborhood.
“I don't feel safe at my home right now.”
Portsmouth Police got the call to the neighborhood at 10:52 in the morning and found the teenager with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body.
One neighbor who didn’t want to go on camera saw the shooting happen out her front window.
“I heard three or four gunshots from inside of my house. And then I looked out the window and saw a man on the ground and another man shot him and the man that shot took off running, and as he took off running the guy on the ground was shooting again,” said the neighbor.
She called 911. Police and first responders arrived, but the teen died at the scene.
"I’m sorry, that’s a lot," the neighbor said upon learning the victim had died. "I have kids. So it’s really hard to hear that it was a kid."
A tiki torch was lit by other neighbors to remember the teenager's life in the same spot where police found his body.
“This is the 26th homicide in our city. Any homicide in my mind is one too many,” said Portsmouth City Councilman Shannon Glover.
This shooting and gun violence was a main topic among Glover and other Portsmouth mayoral candidates in a Thursday night virtual forum. They all gave a similar answer: the city needs more police and communication with the community.
In a statement to 13News Now on Thursday night, interim Portsmouth Police Chief Scott Burke said the following:
"Gun violence has a devastating impact on our communities, greatly magnified when the victims are the youth of our neighborhoods. When young men and women are the targets of these events, all too frequently killed, the effects are far-reaching. The reasons for the shootings are varied, including anger, pride, revenge, drugs, and territorial disputes. Our communities, businesses, civic leagues, faith-based organizations, and law enforcement agencies are working to build better partnerships to address these root causes. As investigators continue to work these cases, we ask anyone with information to contact the Portsmouth Crime Line."
Police do not have any suspect information at this time.
Anyone who has information about this crime is urged to call the Portsmouth Police Department Major Crimes Unit at (757) 393-8536 or to submit an anonymous tip through the Portsmouth Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP. Callers can also submit an anonymous tip through the Crime Line’s “P3 Tips” app or via their website at www.portsmouthcrimeline.com.