NN Police make arrest in teen's killing

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Newport News Police and agents of the U.S. Marshals Service arrested a 16-year-old male, Newport News teenager and 19-year-old Nahfis Nichols of Newport News. Police are questioning both in the Jerome Houston homicide.

On Saturday,  December 12, 2009, police responded to calls of multiple shots fired around 1 a.m. in the 800 block of Lassiter Dr. Officers found Jerome Houston on the ground.

According to a news release, police believe three males approached Houston, one of which pulled out a gun and started shooting. All three fled the scene on foot. No one else was injured.

In Houston's neighborhood on Bellfield Dr., his friends were still in disbelief. "One of my [friends] called me and told me Jerome was gone, I'm thinking he got locked up or something, and I knocked on his door," Justin Jarvis told WAVY.com. Jarvis said Houston's mother came to the door in tears saying someone had "shot her baby last night."

A woman who answered the door said no one from Houston's family was available to speak to WAVY.com.

Still, police were able to talk to several witnesses in the area.

"People don't know how to fight anymore, they want to pull out a gun and be quick to take somebody's life, that's all it is," another one of Houston's friends said of the tragedy.

The 16 year old is charged with Murder, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony and Possession of a Firearm by Felon. Active warrants for two (2) counts of Failure to Appear in Criminal Court and one (1) count of Failure to Appear for a past Possession of a Firearm by Felon were served on Nahfis Nichols, who is being questioned about his knowledge of this homicide.

An additional 17 year old male was taken into custody on Friday, December 18, 2009, and charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and use of a firearm by a juvenile.

The investigation is ongoing.