Anacostia High School student killed in Southeast DC shooting, police say

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - An Anacostia High School student was shot to death in Southeast D.C. Thursday afternoon, police say.

D.C. police officers responded to the sound of gunshots in the 2900 block of Knox Place just after 3:30 p.m. When they arrived, they found a 15-year-old boy shot several times. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham.

The police chief says two suspects encountered the teenager outside of an apartment complex and chased after him through the parking lot, a hallway and a stairwell before he was shot. Police believe the victim was targeted by the suspects.

"It doesn't make any sense. Who is going to shoot a kid?" said Newsham. "This is a holiday season. It's supposed to be a celebratory time and we are out here where a young kid and a family that is devastated by losing their son, their nephew and their grandson. I know that his grandmother and his mom live in the area."

Newsham says investigators are reviewing video from several surveillance cameras in the neighborhood.

The two suspects involved in the shooting were wearing masks, police say.

If you have any information about the shooting, you are asked to call D.C. police.