HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- The teenager killed in his eastern Henrico County neighborhood early Saturday was a student at Highland Springs High School, officials with the district confirmed.
The 16-year-old was a student at Highland Springs High School and played on the Springer's basketball team, which won the state championship less than a month ago, WTVR CBS 6 has learned.
"Please keep the Highand Springs community in your thoughts following the untimely loss of a Springer student," reads a post on the Henrico County Public Schools Facebook page.
Henrico Supervisor Tyrone Nelson, who represents Varina District, said the shooting has saddened the community.
"There's generations of connectivity in Highland Springs. And so when a family hurts, the community hurts,” Nelson said. “Shock, I think, is the first thing, and then mourning. And then a sense of unity and togetherness, I believe will come out of it."
Nelson said the school district and county will do everything they can to wrap their arms around the young man's family and those who knew him at Highland Springs High.
Police: Suspect fled
Lt. Matthew Pecka with Henrico Police said officers and EMS crews were called to the 1900 block of Glenwilton Drive just after 12:10 a.m. for a report of shooting.
"Emergency dispatchers obtained information that one person had been shot outside, and the suspect fled the area," Pecka wrote.
The teen was taken to an area hospital where he died of his injuries, Pecka said.
Officers said the victim's next-of-kin has been contacted, but that his identity is being withheld because of his age.
Henrico Police urged anyone with information to come forward, even if they must do so anonymously.
"This is yet another tragic incident. Working together, we can keep our community safe. Call police if you have information," Pecka said.
Girls heard shooting that killed Henrico teen
Two cousins at a sleepover at their grandmother's house heard the shooting that killed the 16-year-old.
Jaida Taylor, 9, and Nyasia Barrett, 10, recounted what they witnessed as they watched the scene unfold in their grandmother's front yard.
Their grandmother has a doorbell camera, which showed police responding to the incident and captured a woman screaming, “that’s my son.”
“I didn’t hear no yelling or anything — just pow pow," Jaida remembered. "We looked out the window and saw a boy lying right there.”
Jaida and Nyasia said that after what happened early Saturday, they see the place where they used to play differently.
“In memory of him, I don’t want to play here no more," Nyasia said. "I want it to be in memory of him.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Ensor at 804-501-5794, Crime Stoppers at 804-501-5000 or submit tips via smartphone at P3Tips.com.
This is a developing story, so anyone with more information can email newstips@wtvr.com to send a tip.
