A student at Woodrow Wilson High School has died following a shooting in the 500 block of Terrill Street in Beckley.
Dewayne Marquette Richardson Jr., 18, succumbed to injuries sustained by a single gunshot wound to the chest, according to information provided by the Beckley Police Department.
The shooting occurred at approximately 9:24 p.m. on May 2.
Officers with Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were responding to the shooting when they were flagged down on S. Fayette Street at Truman Avenue by a vehicle whose occupants were transporting Richardson to the hospital.
EMS began providing life saving measures while transporting him to Raleigh General Hospital.
He was then flown by helicopter to a Charleston Area Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Richardson was a senior at Woodrow Wilson High School where he excelled in basketball, leading his team to the state tournament being held this week. He was scheduled to graduate later this month.
Beckley Police Department Lieutenant David Allard said that as a basketball fan he had watched Richardson play with the Flying Eagles.
“He was a great basketball player,” Allard said. “I know that the Beckley community will step up and support the students, the school and the staff. It is tough on them.”
As for the crime, Allard stated that they do have a person of interest, but community members need to come forward and provide any information they have.
“I really hope that people with any information will provide it to us,” Allard said.
The Beckley Police Department is asking anyone with information on this incident to contact Crime Stoppers of WV via their free P3 Tips app or Detective Cpl. Stewart at 304-256-1708. Cash rewards will be paid for information leading to an arrest in this incident.
