A 12-year-old honor roll student who was fatally shot in Jackson, Mississippi, was remembered by loved ones Wednesday as an empathetic and protective “old soul” who was always concerned about the safety of others.
Adrian Hawkins-McDougles and his 16-year-old brother, Onterrio, were walking to their grandmother’s house last Thursday to get batteries for a video game controller when they were struck by bullets from a drive-by shooting, according to police and the boys’ mother, Kyneshia McDougles.
Adrian, who had attended his sixth-grade graduation hours earlier, died on the sidewalk, and his brother was wounded, authorities said.
They were shot three weeks after McDougles, 33, had moved her family about 90 miles away from Jackson, fearing for their safety amid gun violence and a rise in violent crime. They returned last week so Adrian could go to his graduation ceremony.
“The guns, they have to stop,” McDougles said. “We’re losing babies. We’re losing loved ones. We’re losing everything for nonsense.”
Midtown Public Charter School, which Adrian attended, said in a statement that he was an “incredibly bright star.”
“Every single student and staff member on campus has at least one positive memory or funny story about Adrian,” the school said.
City officials are weighing gun reform measures, including a proposal that would exempt Jackson from the state’s open-carry gun law.
At a weekend news conference, Deputy Police Chief Deric Hearn said two 18-year-olds were arrested on suspicion of murder, aggravated assault and drive-by shooting. Police had not yet determined a motive.
McDougles said she went to court Tuesday to see the faces of her son’s accused killers. When one of them was told of the charges, she said, he smiled and laughed.
“It really hurt my heart,” McDougles said. “What type of person has no remorse?”
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