PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Two tragic incidents of teens been fatally shot in Newport News within the last two weeks has left the community heartbroken. Now, a group of men are stepping up to help children feel safe again.
Although police and family members have not shared the two victims’ names, Newport News police stated one was a 15-year-old boy who was killed on the morning of Sept. 10 while waiting for a bus to Menchville High School. Seven days later, a 17-year-old boy was shot and killed on Gloucester Drive just after 7 a.m.
Previous Coverage: Newport News teen homicides spark community response
Temayne Knight, a 2009 graduate of Heritage High School is devastated.
“I was — I was speechless,” Knight said. “I had no words because, you know, I have two kids, you know, and I just couldn’t imagine being a parent knowing that I just let my child off to school and then get a phone call saying that he didn’t make it.”
As a result, Knight and others have formed a group called Men on Marshall. The group of men formed with the goal to escort children who are traumatized by neighborhood gun violence. About a dozen strong so far, Men on Marshall will line a portion of Marshall Avenue between Gloucester Drive and 36th Street to provide a sense of security and concern.