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.
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.
“The message that we’re really trying to send is, yes, get up early. We always quote a statement that’s always been said, ‘It takes a village to raise a child, you know,'” Knight said. “But once again, like I say, we’ve gotten complacent and we actually have to physically get out here now and make sure we’re doing our part for our village to raise our children.”
For more information regarding Men on Marshall, use this email address: Tremayneknight32@gmail.com or search for Knight’s social media pages by using #MenonMarshall.
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