Officials: Teen Fatally Shot In Dunkin' Donuts Parking Lot Over Drug Deal
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A teenager was shot and killed outside a Dunkin' Donuts in Phoenixville over a drug deal, officials say.
The shooting happened just before 7 p.m. on Wednesday in the 200 block of Nutt Road.
Officials with the Phoenixville Area School District confirmed 15-year-old Jayson Ortiz-Cameron was shot.
School officials say Ortiz-Cameron was a high school freshman.
The Chester County District Attorney's Office says the fatal shooting is being investigated as a drug-related homicide.
Officials say the victim and other people planned to commit a robbery in the middle of a marijuana deal in the back parking lot at Dunkin' Donuts.
Investigators say the car containing the shooter was shown on surveillance circling the store and then backing into a spot in the back of the parking lot. Officials say the victim and his friends were in contact with the occupants of the car to set up the marijuana deal.
After approaching the car, Jayson and his friends started to have a conversation with them, which escalated into a confrontation.
Officials say the black male driver with dreadlocks was arguing with the victim and his friends about the deal when the white male in the front passenger seat joined the argument.
Officials say one of the males inside the car then pulled a gun and shot Jayson.
The suspects then got back into the car and immediately fled, exiting onto Milligan Street.
"The suspects were engaged with this victim over a petty drug deal. Now a young man is dead and the suspects are fugitives, knowing that one of them is a killer. All of this violence was triggered by a little bit of weed and a little bit of greed. It is senseless," said Chester County DA Tom Hogan.
Friends and fellow students at Phoenixville Area High School are still processing Jayson's death.
"When I first heard about it, like, it really struck me because of our past," said Skylar Smith. "It hurt, it really did."
While police worked to uncover the motive, school officials offered solace, opening the school during the holiday break and providing counselors for those in need.
"Whenever you lose a young life there's so much that people are wondering about and so much concern and care that they have, so we've opened up the school so folks can come on in and share their grief," said Alan Fegley, the superintendent of the Phoenixville Area School District.
Anybody with information is asked to contact Chester County Detective Joe Walton at 610-344-6866 or Phoenixville Detective Pat Mark at 610-933-1180.
