A family and community are still mourning the tragic death of a 12-year-old Portsmouth boy.
Police say someone shot him Friday morning on Lexington Drive. The shooter is still on the run. Meanwhile, the young boy's cousin is trying to make sure something like this doesn't happen again.
De’Andre Barnes said the young boy who died is his cousin Kemon Battle. Battle was a 7th grader at Cradock Middle School.
“If you know him you knew he was in the room,” Barnes said. “He was a good kid, talked junked, anyone knew that, but his teachers say they will miss his energy.”
Barnes said Battle died Saturday while he was being sworn into the Portsmouth Public School Board in the Dale homes neighborhood. Battle was shot a few minutes from that location.
“It was heartbreaking,” Barnes said. “A 12-year-old is dead, we are hurt as a family, so turn yourself in and give the family peace,” Barnes asked of the shooter.
Barnes said right now the best thing they can do is to make sure something like this doesn't happen to another child.
He wants the community, school board and city council to come together and invest in the youth, which is one reason why he ran for the school board.
Barnes runs a non-profit called Portsmouth City Sports Club, which offers sports year-round to keep kids off the street. Barnes said the one roadblock they run into is the lack of finances.
“We need to put money into programs and make things affordable for organizations to rent so these kids can have a place to go,” Barnes said. “It's important we invest later and now, and maybe it takes the death of my cousin.”
If you have any information about this or any crime in the City of Portsmouth, investigators urge you to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP℠. Tipsters are never asked to give their name or required to testify in court. Tipsters can also submit their tips via the P3 Tips app found in the Google Play and App stores or at www.portsmouthcrimeline.com.
If a tip leads to an arrest, the recovery of drugs or stolen property, they could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.
You can help the family with funeral costs here.