Shots Fired During Vigil for Slain D.C. Teen Philip Jones in Southeast

Someone fired shots during a vigil Wednesday night for a D.C. teen who was shot and killed one week ago in Southeast.

Philip Jones, 17, was shot and killed around 8:30 p.m. last Wednesday in the 3100 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE following a basketball game between Ballou and Anacostia high schools.

Jones was with a girl who was shot in the hand, who is expected to make a full recovery. Their shooter hasn't been caught.

One week after the shooting, dozens of teens gathered in Southeast to honor Jones, but minutes after the vigil ended around 7:45 p.m., someone fired shots. Luckily, no one was injured, though Jones' mother was still at the vigil when shots rang out. 

Trayon White, who is running for a Ward 8 council seat, was with Jones the night he was killed.

"It's ridiculous. Shooting at a vigil? Come on man, that's gone too far," White said. "It's Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. A man died for peace. There's got to be more people involved and part of the solution."

Jones attended Anacostia High School last year, and was getting ready to start job corps training this year. 

"He was a good young man. No one is perfect, but he wasn't on the bad path, he stayed out of trouble," White said.

Two weeks ago, 17-year-old Andrew Newman was shot and killed during a barrage of gunfire while on his way out of a house party in Northeast.

"As far as I know, young guys do it to themselves, it's very [sad]," a Southeast neighbor said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099.

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