A teenage boy killed in a Durham shooting is being remembered by friends and family as they mourn his death.

Aryion 'AJ' Clendenning was known as a devoted student and athlete at Riverside High School. Clendenning, 15, played football his freshman season and enjoyed video games.

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Clendenning died at a Durham apartment complex on Saturday afternoon. A witness said he was playing in the snow when shots were fired.

Officers responded to Magnolia Pointe Apartments on Danube Lane around 2:40 p.m. Medical staff took Clendenning to the hospital, where he died.

Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams was distraught by the circumstances around the shooting.

"A kid should be able to play in the snow," Williams told WRAL News. "I've gone from sad to just mad as hell. I’m really frustrated."

Clendenning's death carries a link to another tragic Durham shooting. Sandra Person, the grandmother of the late Z'yon Person, told WRAL News that Z'yon and AJ were friends. Z'yon was also shot and killed in Durham in 2019. Z'yon's death was highly publicized due to its tragic nature as he was 9 years old and riding in a car with family members when he was shot.

"AJ is like a grandson to me," Sandra said. "Him and Z'yon were like two peas in a pod."

A preliminary investigation showed someone fired a weapon from a vehicle and then left. Durham police are still investigating a motive. So far in 2025, six people have been shot in Durham. Two of those people died.

"Five years later, another grandson of mine is gone because of gun violence," Sandra said. "That goes to show you, that it's not under control. It's really not."

"A child is gone from our life and we have to pick up the pieces once again," Sandra said. "And it's not easy. A lot of lives are impacted by this. Our hearts are broken, once again."

A GoFundMe was launched to help the family give AJ a proper service. You can donate here.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Investigator J. Smith at 919-560-4440 ext. 29365. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers by visiting durhamcrimestoppers.org or calling 919-683-1200.