NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Newport News police are investigating a shooting Thursday night at the Heritage Forest apartments that left two people dead.
Dispatchers got the call at 10:21 p.m., and officers arrived at the 900 block of Forest Lake Court and found the two victims. A 15-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene, and an 18-year-old was taken to the hospital but later died.
“For this to happen to my nephew you know my soul hurts … my soul hurts because he didn’t deserve this, he did not deserve this. My baby was doing well, he was doing good,” cried Yugonda Sample-Jones about her 15-year-old nephew Erek Wright. “My sister texted me and said he was gone and then I saw on the news and it hurts my baby was amazing he had such a bright future,” she explained.
She says his 18-year-old cousin Tyree Spady was also killed.
“My sister texted me and said he was gone and then I saw on the news, and it hurts, my baby was amazing he had such a bright future,” she explained.
Alongside Sample-Jones Friday afternoon were police and community members who gathered outside Heritage Forest to pray and reach out for answers.
Police weren’t allowed on the property to conduct their care walk, so instead they were stopping cars and handing out flyers as people drove in and out.
“For individuals who don’t say anything, who hide behind doors or pull their shades down, what they’re doing is allowing that behavior to exist,” said Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew. “There’s no greater crime in this department than a homicide.”
The shooting is still under investigation and police haven’t released any suspect information. If you know anything please call the Crime Line.
