17-year-old shot, killed in Danville

Family member identified teen as Hakeem King

DANVILLE, Va. – In the parking lot of Melville Avenue Baptist Church, tears and shouts of anger poured out of a family member of the 17-year-old shot and killed around 4 p.m. Sunday.

"Why'd y'all kill him, man?" the family member said.

The family member was surrounded by other family members and friends trying to console her, all saying they were too emotional to speak to the media.

A short distance away, the teen was lying in the street.

"That wasn't called for! That wasn't called for!" the family member said.

Police had not identified the teen Sunday evening, but the teen's stepfather identified him as Hakeem King.

Danville Police Department Lt .Ricahrd Chivvis said little was known Sunday afternoon about what happened.

"When the (Danville) Life Saving Crew got here, they pronounced (the teen) nonviable," Chivvis said. "You can see behind me and up the street there are a number of shell casings in the street, and evidence plaquerds, so the scene is consistent with this being a shooting that took place here in the street."

Danville mayor Alonzo Jones was at the scene trying to console family members and friends.

Jones declined to comment.

"We appreciate the response of our city leaders. This is a community partnership. We are dedicated, the police department (is), to driving community engagement and crime reduction," Chivvis said.

While investigators were on scene, a call about shots fired on Hughes Street came in.

Shell casings were found, but police couldn't say if the call may be connected to the teen's death.


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