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Elijah Damonte McLean

Age 18

Newport News, Virginia

New car, new job: beginnings — ended

He was young, ambitious, hardworking and had a “beautiful smile.” He had just started working at Busch Gardens and just saved up enough to buy a car. His little brother was his best friend. He was his brother’s role model.

It happened so close to her house. Deborah Hardy, his neighbor, doesn’t understand why it had to happen at all. “I'm really tired of it,” she told reporters.

Elijah Damonte McLean, 18, was killed during a drive-by shooting in Newport News, Virginia, on April 29, 2018.

By Hannah Rosman · Age 18
Meet the Reporters

More than 300 siblings

Jontae Billups-Brooks

An athlete and a music lover

Rashaad Izil Wisher

One brother buried. Then another one.

Caydence Nicole Painter

Reading, dancing, playing. Siblings shot together.

Shondricka J'Nay Adams

Celebrating one night, gone the next

Peyton Nicole Hurt

Still helping others, even in death

Rashiya Melton

Joins brother, leaves behind her twin

Ramand Kassadine Davis

Happy in his SpongeBob SquarePants jammies

Raydale Hill

Can no longer create his music

Yaleah Hall

Sister, daughter, dancer, since day one

Lorenzo Moore-Vaughn

About to start his senior year

Jeremiah Ascencio

Last moments spent cradling his brother

Ryan Amadeo Dela Cruz

Gone, two weeks shy of graduation

Elijah Foster

Dope Boy Gang. One less member.

Jaquincy Jawan Ross

Wanted to buy her a scooter

Kameron Johnson

He dreamed of college and cars

Elisha Amon Cole

Dreaming big, working on his portfolio

Lia Lin Collier

A light, “unrelenting joy” extinguished

Ty'Dre Shyheim Hailey

She didn’t know it was real

Izabella Marie Helem

Brother shoots his sister by accident

Jayden Fondeur

His older brother found him first