FRANKLIN, Va. — At least 80 people from the Franklin community gathered for a vigil Monday night to honor and remember a 10-year-old killed in a shooting last week.
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Parents identify 10-year-old boy who police say was killed in Franklin shooting
La'Marj Deshawn Holden's family confirmed to News 3 he was killed in a shooting on Artis Street last Wednesday.
Around 3 p.m., police responded to a call about a shooting at the 300 block of Artis Street, police said. They found a 10-year-old boy, La'Marj and a 37-year-old man who had life-threatening injuries after being shot.
Both victims were transported to Bon Secours Southhampton Memorial Hospital, according to police. The man was later flown to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where he was treated and released.
Holden died from his injuries in the hospital.
"In moments like these we need to come together as a community and show love and support for one another," said Franklin Vice Mayor Wynndolyn Copeland said during Monday's vigil.
From officers to pastors, to mothers lit candles, tears and hugs filled Martin L King Jr Community Center Monday night.
"We've lost a little angel," said a pastor in Franklin.
"Put the guns down, no more violence," said Maythenia Dunn, a Franklin resident.
Dunn shared a message she hopes many receive. She came to the vigil, because she knows all too well about the impact of gun violence, after losing her grandson, Ronnie Everette, last year.
"I felt the other person pain for losing their child, and I felt like if I'm here it could probably just show them a little bit of love," said Dunn. "We just got to get rid of these guns."
News 3 Kelsey Jones spoke with the 10-year-old's dad Sunday, he was not at the vigil but he says the family is planning to bury their baby boy. He was described as a sweet kid, who just enjoyed having fun.
Police said that their investigation determined that Tashawnda Nicole Drayton, 24, shot both victims. A warrant has been issued for her arrest.
Drayton is a Black woman, about 5'11", 250 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, according to a Franklin Police press release. She is wanted for first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated malicious wounding, two counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, threat to burn or damage a building, possession of firearm by convicted felon and discharge a firearm in a public place. A woman of the same name has multiple criminal filings in Virginia and North Carolina between 2018 and 2022.
Anyone with information about the incident should call Franklin Police at 757-562-8575, Franklin Crime Solvers at 757-516-7100 or submit a tip to p3tips.com.
