PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A 19-year-old man has died after a shooting in Portsmouth on Monday night, police said
The Portsmouth Police Department (PPD) said officers responded to a shooting near the 4700 block of Haywood Drive, not far from High St W on Route 17, around 10:30 p.m. When officers arrived, they found a man suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound injury.
Neighbors told 13News Now they heard multiple shots, and screaming, but Portsmouth Police said at this time they do not have anyone in custody.
In a later release, PPD said the victim, identified as Aveyon Jordan, was pronounced dead at the scene.
His family says they mostly called him AJ.
"He would light up any room he walked into," said Angela Jordan. "He was just a friend to everyone he met, and we are so hurt right now.
Angela Jordan, the victim's mother, said her son had just returned to Portsmouth from a college visit when he was killed. She said he had visited a friend's house on Haywood Drive when someone opened fire.
"It still doesn't feel real," said Jordan. "This person not only hurt my family, they hurt his basketball family, his football family, the entire Churchland High community."
AJ Jordan is remembered as a star athlete for both Churchland High's basketball and football teams. He had just celebrated his 1000th point in basketball before he was killed.
"I don't think people realize the impact that this is going to have," said De'Andre Barnes, Portsmouth City Councilman. "So many people knew this man."
Barnes said his son played basketball with Jordan for the past several months and together they went to a state tournament.
A spokeswoman with Portsmouth Public Schools said a crisis counseling team will be at Churchland High School while students and staff grapple with the loss.
Principal, Jennelle Burden, sent the following message to families:
Good afternoon, Churchland families –
It is with a heavy heart I write you to share that earlier today we were made aware we lost one of our students, Aveyon “AJ” Jordan, to a senseless act of gun violence. Our hearts go out to AJ’s family as well as his friends and teammates here at Churchland.
We know how upsetting this news can be, even to those who may not have known AJ personally. If your child would like to talk to someone, we had crisis counselors at the school all day today and they will remain here for the rest of the week. In addition, I want to remind families our division partners with Care Solace, a free and confidential service that connects families to mental health care providers. You can access this service at any time on the division’s Here to Help webpage.
Should you have any other specific need or concern for your child as we navigate this loss, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at our main office at 757-686-2500. Thank you for your compassion and sympathies for AJ and his loved ones, and, as always, thank you for your support of Churchland High School.
Anyone with information about what happened can reach out to the Crime Line by calling 1-888-562-5887 or submitting a tip to P3 Tips online.
