2 children killed in Springfield shooting identified; investigation ongoing

The two children who were shot to death over the weekend in Springfield have been identified.

Naveaeh Stewart, 14, and Thomas Stewart, 13, were identified as the two children found with gunshot wounds inside a house on Russell Avenue, according to the Clark County and Montgomery County coroner’s offices.

Officers responded around 11:30 p.m. Friday to the 1200 block of Russell Avenue. When police arrived, they found the two victims inside the residence with gunshot wounds, according to a Springfield police report.

Both of the victims were taken to a local hospital, where they died from their injuries, the report stated.

A woman who called 911 said that she heard two shots. She said that her granddaughter had been shot and that her grandson also had been shot.

When the dispatcher asked who shot them, the woman said she did not know.

The gunshot victims were students at Hayward Middle and Fulton Elementary schools, according to a statement from Springfield City School District.

“The Springfield City School District is deeply saddened by the loss of two of our students over the weekend. There are grief counselors available to students,” the statement said.

The district said there are grief counselors available throughout the week for those who need them.

“Our thoughts are with the family, teachers, friends, neighbors and all who loved and were loved by the two students involved,” Superintendent Bob Hill said in the statement. “Times like these remind us that we are one family in the SCSD, whether students are here for their entire K-12 experience or if only for a season of their precious lives. They mean the world to us.”

The shooting remains under investigation by the Springfield Police Division.

The Springfield News-Sun is working to learn more and has reached out to the Springfield Police Division for more details.

The Springfield City School District’s statement about the student deaths included a message from Clark County Prosecutor Daniel Driscoll regarding “the sharing of misinformation on social media, especially during times of crisis.”

“As a community, it is our responsibility to share only what we know is fact and not careless rumors. Driscoll reported that there is no substantial evidence to support a recent TikTok video with false information about this incident and has asked everyone to stop spreading the rumor further,” the statement said.

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