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Lorenzo Moore-Vaughn

Age 17

Black Jack, Missouri

About to start his senior year

He was a basketball player about to start his senior year of high school. He had enrolled in summer school so he could graduate early.

He was thinking about his future, planning to pursue entrepreneurship or forensic science. He had strong family bonds; he was close to his cousin Alfonzo. His sister Jomila was planning on surprising him in December with a car as a graduation gift. On July 28, 2018, he was sitting in the front seat of a car while a friend in the backseat played with a gun.

It went off. Lorenzo Moore-Vaughn, 17, was fatally shot in Black Jack, Missouri.

By Rachel Perry · Age 17
Meet the Reporters

More than 100 diligent students

Xzariah Denecca Rice

Her father died in her arms

Jontae Billups-Brooks

An athlete and a music lover

Christopher Johnson

Making others better versions of themselves

Telvin Goll

He wished for the American Dream

Francisco Puentes

Mom never received the happy news

Shondricka J'Nay Adams

Celebrating one night, gone the next

Jo'Markius Fuller

Never to wear grandma’s scarves again

Jonathan David Freeman Jr.

Debated anything, from music to Deflategate

Martez Christopher Wade

“He wasn’t a statistic,” said mom

Caydence Nicole Painter

Reading, dancing, playing. Siblings shot together.

Amariah C. Emery

On her T-shirt, a peace sign

Kevin Wilson Jr.

Star athlete with a bright future

Ezekiel James Griego

Graduated high school, had promising future

Jayden Fondeur

His older brother found him first

Jon-Marvin Revels Jacobs

He was on his way home

Martin Duque Anguiano

An ambitious, bright boy, senselessly killed

NeQuacia Porsha Jacobs-Lewis

High school graduation, diploma, career — gone

Ryan Amadeo Dela Cruz

Gone, two weeks shy of graduation

Kaileigh Lin Collier

Was “more beautiful than she knew”

Favian Isiah Carrillo Duran

Respectful, shy teen did grandma’s chores