Memorial garden under construction at Harry E. James Elementary School to honor student killed in 2022 shooting

HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) — Construction for a memorial garden is underway at Harry E. James Elementary School, which will honor the life of 8-year-old P’Aris Moore who was killed in a December 2022 shooting .

In a Facebook post by Hopewell City Public Schools , pictures show construction taking place at an outside section of Harry E. James Elementary School where a memorial garden will honor the life of P’Aris Moore, a third-grade student at the school who was killed in a shooting on Dec. 31, 2022.

“The HEJ staff and students extend their heartfelt thanks to Destination Church for generously donating all materials and providing invaluable assistance with this project,” the Facebook post reads. “Together, we honor P’Aris Moore by creating this memorial garden, with students actively involved in designing and painting the mural.”

At around 2:15 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, officers responded to the 2300 block of Freeman Street for a report of a person shot. When they arrived at the scene, they found Moore who had been shot in the chest.

Moore was taken to TriCities Hospital in Hopewell, where she later died.

Authorities said Moore was playing outside with her family members on Freeman Street at around 2 p.m. Friday. Witnesses reported that a silver, four-door sedan sped by, and a single gunshot was fired, hitting Moore in the chest.

Jamari Antonio Taylor and Rayquan Latrel Harvell were arrested and charged in connection to the shooting that killed Moore.

Taylor has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and first-degree murder. A jury trial will be held for these two charges starting on June 27.

Taylor was also initially charged with possession or transportation of a weapon as a convicted felon, but that charged was nolle prossed on Nov. 1, 2023.

Harvell has been charged with the use of a firearm in commission of a felony and first-degree murder. A jury trial for these charges will start on July 11.

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