A 13-year-old Maryland boy has died after he was shot outside his home in Hillcrest Heights, Maryland, as he raked leaves.
The Washington Post reports that Juanita Agnew, who is the boy's mother, said her son Jayz Agnew died Friday evening.
The newspaper reports he had been fighting for his life since he was shot through the head. He was previously pronounced clinically dead, according to the Prince George’s County state’s attorney.
Jayz Agnew was critically injured in a shooting Tuesday night in the 2100 block of Jameson Street at about 5:20 p.m., Prince George's County police said. He was raking leaves in his family’s front yard at the time of the incident.
We're making it easier for you to find stories that matter with our new newsletter — The 4Front. Sign up here and get news that is important for you to your inbox.
Agnew, who said her son wanted to be an emergency room doctor, said she is reeling.
“My greatest fear is my son will not get justice,” she said.
She also said that if this can happen to her son, other children need to be careful.
“My house is in close proximity to the elementary school so this could have happened to any of the neighborhood children,” she said.
Aisha Braveboy, the county's state’s attorney addressed Jayz Agnew's death in a statement.
“We are heartbroken to hear that on November 11th 13-year-old Jayz Agnew was pronounced clinically dead after clinging to life in the hospital since Tuesday,” Braveboy said. “This bright, young man was shot and murdered while raking leaves in his family’s front yard in Hillcrest Heights.”
She also said police continue to search for the shooter or shooters in Jayz’s killing.
“Too many beautiful lives have been taken away from families and our communities. Those who have been senselessly killed are not simply numbers, they are sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, friends, mentors and caretakers, all who are valuable to our communities,” Braveboy said.
Juanita Agnew’s family started a GoFundMe for “help with legal and investigative expenses.”
“Our son Jayz was senselessly shot in the head while raking leaves in our front yard," the family wrote. "Our Jayz is a loving gentle child. His only squabbles are with his little sister Aaliyah over video games … We will not stop until justice is served.”
