MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Memphis Police Officers surrounded Overton High School Thursday to watch over students after a 16-year-old student was killed on his way home from school.
Demarco Adams was killed on Tuesday November 6. His friends say he was targeted by gang members. Police arrested 19-year-old Tremarius Avant on Thursday for Adams' murder.
Students told ABC24 News extra officers were also at Overton High on Thursday because there were more threats of possible shootings near the school. Police won't say why Adams was shot but students say gangs are to blame.
"It's crazy how you see someone one day and the next day they're gone,” said Adams’ classmate, Robert Dockery.
Students at Overton High School found out about Adams’ death Thursday and were in mourning.
"There are a lot of people crying and it's like devastation,” said Dockery.
Adams had a lot of friends and was loved by many. So when they learned that someone shot and killed him on his way home they were shocked.
"The teachers were offering kids to go to the counselor and allowed them to go to the grievance counselors so they won't be so devastated,” Dockery told ABC24 News.
Police found Adams' body in a backyard in the 4400-block of Leatherwood near Willow Road, less than a mile from Overton High. Adams' friend and biology classmate, Johnathon Luckey, says murder is nothing new in his neighborhood.
"One of my friends told me somebody got killed and I said yeah a lot of people get killed in this neighborhood, kind of a normal day,” said Luckey.
But when he found out it was his friend, he couldn't believe it.
"I felt like it could've been any of us. It could be any of us any time,” stated Luckey.
Luckey says Adams was not in a gang but he was bullied by them.
"The teacher told us today that he (Adams) decided to pick up a gun and fired 2 warning shots in the air. The bullies drove off and came back with a gun and decided to kill him,” Luckey told ABC24 News.
MPD squad cars and the MPD’s Blue Crush anti-gang unit surrounded the school Thursday afternoon. There were threats of more students being hurt.
"There were some rumors going around that someone is going to roll past and shoot up the school,” said Luckey.
Adams' friends made a Facebook page in his memory: "Rest in Peace: Demarco Adams. Gone but not forgotten."
