In the late summer of 1989, the community of Virginia Beach was shaken by a senseless act of violence that claimed the life of a promising young student. Sheridan Andre'al Jones, a 15-year-old Black male, was fatally wounded in a shooting that erupted in the aftermath of a high school football game. An honor student at Salem High School, Jones was described by his grieving mother as a boy who didn't deserve such a tragic fate, whose most familiar encounter with a firearm was a water pistol.
The incident unfolded on the evening of August 30, 1989, following a game between Green Run and Salem high schools. A dispute between two groups of youths from different housing developments escalated into a violent confrontation involving approximately 30 individuals. During the chaos, shots were fired, and Jones, an innocent bystander, was struck in the head. Another teenager, 17-year-old Oliver Steele, was also wounded in the shooting, sustaining a serious injury to the chest. Sheridan Jones was rushed to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on August 31, 1989.
In the wake of the shooting, law enforcement acted swiftly, and three individuals from Virginia Beach were taken into custody. The suspects were identified as 19-year-old Gregory L. Blackless, 18-year-old Montroleus D. Boston, and a 17-year-old juvenile. Each faced multiple charges, including two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony and two counts of malicious assault by a mob. Police indicated that they did not believe the shooting was related to organized gang activity but rather stemmed from a dispute between teenagers from the Carper Housing and Twin Canals housing developments. The tragic death of Sheridan Jones left a lasting scar on the community, serving as a somber reminder of the devastating consequences of youth violence.
