One teen dead, two injured in New Castle shooting

Damien Jackson, the New Castle boy who was shot and killed early Saturday morning, had just turned 15 last month.

“He was a good kid. He loved people, music, and dirt bikes,” his mother Ciara Taylor said. “He would do anything for his friends and his little brothers.”

On Friday, Damien, who had finished ninth grade at New Castle High School, set off for a graduation party organized by his cousin and a group of friends at Bollinger Playground, in the 600 block West North Street in New Castle.

“That’s the only reason I let him go,” Ms. Taylor said. “Because all his cousins were going.”

According to videos of the event, she said, a large crowd had gathered. Then, just after 1 a.m., shots rang out from what people at the party said were multiple shooters. Damien was hit and two other boys were wounded. One was a 13year-old boy who was hit in the shoulder. The age and condition of the other injured juvenile were not available.

According to Post-Gazette news partner KDKA-TV, all three were transported by helicopter to Pittsburgh hospitals. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner said Damien died at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh at 3:34 a.m.

Ms. Taylor said she doesn’t know if suspects had been identified and said he hadn’t heard from the police yet. New Castle police are investigating, according to a posting on their Facebook page. They asked that any witnesses or others at the celebration call them at 724-656-3586 or submit a tip online at newcastlepd.com. Messages left with the police department were not immediately returned on Sunday.

Ms. Taylor said her prayer is “that my son’s in heaven, that he watches over the rest of his brothers and family. And (for) strength for me and my kids and my other family to get through it.”

She has set up a GoFundMe for his funeral expenses.