Students set up memorial for slain teen Jholie Moussa, mourn loss of classmate and friend

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Classmates at Mount Vernon High School returned to school for the first time since the body of 16-year-old Jholie Moussa was found Friday at Woodlawn Park.

Fairfax County police announced on Tuesday that a person of interest in her death was in custody for a separate crime. Authorities said the 17-year-old male from the Alexandria area was taken into custody on Jan. 18 for a prior felony assault against Moussa that was previously unreported.

Sources told FOX 5's Evan Lambert that the person of interest was Moussa's ex-boyfriend. Officials reiterated that the 17-year-old was not in custody for Moussa's death, but for a previous incident.

Students were absolutely devastated Tuesday morning as they headed back to school after learning of the death of Moussa. A memorial was set up in honor of Moussa with teddy bears and flowers placed on a stone in front of the school.

The 16-year-old was last seen leaving her home in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County on Jan. 12. She was reported missing the following day and her body was later found in the Woodlawn Neighborhood Park on Jan. 26 less than one mile from her home.

Moussa's mother said the family shared several factors with police that contradicted their public statements that Moussa was a runaway, yet there was not sufficient information to issue an Amber Alert.

"The worst outcome that could possibly happen has happened, so at this point, I am in it for the long haul," her mother Syreeta Hill told FOX 5. "I'm in it for the long haul because I don't want anyone else to go through what my child went through."

The family said it would also hold their own vigil on Thursday at 6 p.m. at New Life Open Bible Church in Springfield.