NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A Newport News father is urging everyone to take another look at new surveillance video that shows the night someone shot and killed his son.
16-year-old Jaydon Rayburn died in a 7-Eleven parking lot off of Warwick Boulevard in October 2020. He got called in to work early that day to cover an extra shift and missed his sister's 15th birthday.
Justin Rayburn said it was Jaydon's first job, and that it showed his good work ethic. Now, it's a decision Justin wishes Jaydon never made.
"It just feels like a huge piece is missing in our house after losing him," said Justin. "Now my daughter's birthday is filled with grief instead of joy."
Police say they were called to the 7-Eleven in the 12400 block of Warwick Boulevard around 11:13 p.m. Saturday for a report of a suspicious vehicle. Officers arrived to find a teenage boy inside the vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Justin said Jaydon died only two days later. Doctors kept him on life support, as Jaydon was a registered organ donor.
Newport News never named an official suspect during their investigation.
"I think that's one of the hardest pills to swallow is that my son is no longer here, and doesn't get to enjoy his life as a young man," said Justin. "But the person or persons who took him are still out on the street."
However, investigators say they want that to change. Newport News detectives recently released new surveillance video showing what appears to be two young men running away from the scene of the shooting. It also shows two bystanders about to get into a car and look toward the fleeing persons of interest.
Police say they would like both groups to come forward.
"We never got the chance to speak to either of those ladies on what they might have seen," said Detective Krystle Alexander of the Newport News Police Department. "If either of them came forward, it could help bring some answers to this family."
In the past week, Newport News has experienced a surge of gun violence aimed at teenagers.
A 17-year-old was fatally shot Tuesday morning in Newport News while he stayed at an apartment building. One week earlier, a 15-year-old was shot and killed while he stood at a bus stop.
Justin said he knows all too well what the emotional toll of gun violence feels like.
"I know just how much the grief can tear a family apart," said Justin. "Any information - no matter how insignificant it might seem to the community - it might be the missing link to the puzzle that detectives have been looking for."
Both detectives and Jaydon's father are calling on the community to come forward with any information that could help investigators. If you have anything that could help police, call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or submit an anonymous tip online at p3tips.com.