Durham boys shared friendship, now share tragic end
SEAT OF HER CAR AND THEN SHOT
HER IN THE CHEST. THE 2 BOYS
YOU SEE RIGHT HERE, WE'RE BEST
FRIENDS. THEY ALSO SHARE A
HEARTBREAKING CONNECTION.
>> BOTH OF THEM ARE THE VICTIMS
OF GUN VIOLENCE. 5 YEARS APART.
ZION PERSON WAS KILLED IN 2019
AJ CLENDENING WAS SHOT AND
KILLED THIS PAST WEEKEND.
WRAL'S MONICA CASEY HAS BEEN
SPEAKING WITH THEIR FAMILIES ON
MONICA, A CHASE FAMILY DOESN'T
BELIEVE HE WAS THE TARGET HERE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. A J WAS SHOT
AND KILLED OUTSIDE HIS
APARTMENT DOING WHAT A LOT OF
KIDS WE'RE DOING ON SATURDAY
PLAYING OUTSIDE IN THE SNOW.
HIS FAMILY DESCRIBES HIM AS
A YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OFTEN
PICKING UP EXTRA CHORES AND
ALWAYS READY TO JUMP INTO A
TIKTOK DANCE WITH HIS MOM AND
SISTER.
>> THIS PAIR OF BEST FRIENDS
LOVED PLAYING FORTNITE
TOGETHER. NOW, 5 YEARS APART.
BOTH BOYS ARE DEAD BECAUSE OF
GUN VIOLENCE IN DURHAM 15
YEAR-OLD AREA ON A J CLIN
DENNING WAS SHOT THIS WEEKEND
WHILE PLAYING OUTSIDE IN THE
SNOW. YOU KNOW IT IN A DAY USE
SUPPOSED TO BURY UP HANDS UP
AND NOT SUPPOSED TO MARRY JACE
UNCLE NEED BAYNES AND AUNTIE
ON ALSTON. TELL ME HE WAS A ONE
OF A KIND KID WHO LOVED DANCING
FOOTBALL AND GAMING UNFREEZE,
RESPECTFUL.
>> IT JUST IS JUST A NICE GUY
TO BE AROUND. IS THAT SO MUCH?
AND I'M BACK IN 2019, 9
YEAR-OLD ZION PERSON WAS ALSO
A VICTIM.
>> KILLED WHEN GANG MEMBERS
OPENED FIRE ON THE CAR. HE WAS
IN A JAMES BAKER HAS SIGNED FOR
ME IS I AND GRANDMOTHER.
SANDRA TELLS US A J AND ZION
WERE SIMILAR FROM THE VIDEO
GAMES. THEY LIKED TO THEIR
WILLINGNESS TO HELP HER WITH
CHORES.
>> HER INNOCENT LOVED ONES SHOT
AND KILLED. NOW A RECURRING
NIGHTMARE. I TEACH IS GONE.
>> AND WE HAVE TO PICK UP THE
PIECES ONCE AGAIN. OUR HEARTS
ARE ALL IN. HE WAS SAYING THE
EDGE AND AJ ATTENDED THE
SENTENCING OF ZION'S MURDERERS
IN 2022. NOW HIS FAMILY HAS A
MESSAGE FOR THE PEOPLE
RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS DEATH.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET CAUGHT.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MY FACE
EVERY QUARTER PANEL.
>> DURHAM POLICE TELL ME THEIR
INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.
NO ARRESTS YET AT THIS TIME.
WE DO KNOW THE SHOTS THAT HIT
AJ WERE FIRED FROM A VEHICLE
THAT THEN FLED THE SCENE.
AJ FAMILY HAS STARTED A
GOFUNDME FOR HIS FUNERAL
EXPENSES AND WE HAVE THAT LINK
OVER ON OUR WEBSITE LIVE IN