Joint Statement: Council Members Ingrid Watson and Eric Olson Respond to Fatal Shooting of DuVal High School Student
Our community is heartbroken by the senseless loss of Jayda Medrano-Moore, a 16 year-old DuVal High School student who was shot and killed near her school yesterday afternoon. School officials describe her as a beloved daughter, bright and vibrant, and a cherished friend with boundless potential and dreams that inspired others.
As parents and community leaders, we cannot comprehend the overwhelming grief and sense of loss her parents, family members and loved ones must feel.
Our community cannot accept gun violence. We cannot accept that our young people are being faced with such violence when they should instead be enjoying their youth and looking forward to the promise of a fulfilling life ahead. We all must do better.
Grief counselors and mental health professionals are providing support to a mourning DuVal school community, and we have every confidence in law enforcement that justice will be served, however we know we must do more to address this crisis.
All of us must work together to end the cycle of violence that is much too common in our communities, and that threatens our peace and our promise in Prince George’s County.
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*DuVal High School is in Council District 4, represented by Council Member Ingrid Watson.
The fatal shooting occurred in neighboring District 3, represented by Council Member Eric Olson.