Dunbar Freshman Is Fatally Shot in Northeast

A 15-year-old was shot and fatally wounded last week outside his home in Northeast Washington, D.C. police said. Ladonta Longshore, a ninth-grader at Dunbar High School, was one of the youngest people killed in the city this year.

Police said he was found about 10:30 p.m. Monday behind his apartment building in the 1200 block of Brentwood Road NE, south of Rhode Island Avenue and east of the Rhode Island Avenue Metro stop.

He died Wednesday at a hospital, and the shooting is under investigation, police said.

Relatives said the teenager was popular, friendly and fond of music and electronic games.

Describing him as "a very good person," his mother, Crystal Longshore, said she had "no understanding" of why he was shot.

"None at all," she said.

She called her son "a good spirit" who kept her laughing.

Basketball was his favorite sport, and he played with a group from Brookland Union Baptist Church, his mother said.

She said a vigil will be held for him tonight near the shooting scene.

Another 15-year-old was fatally shot in the District three months ago.

The youth, identified as Drevon Proctor of Oxon Hill, was found Aug. 9 in the 1900 block of Southern Avenue SE, police said.