Vigil honors slain Oscar Smith football star

CHESAPEAKE

Beneath a threatening sky, in a cul-de-sac filled with hundreds of people clutching candles, Marie Abbott asked for compassion for the teenager accused of killing the nephew she raised and loved like a son.

"Let's let God be in charge of justice," Abbott shouted. "Think about unity. Think about peace. No retaliation, I beg of thee."

Lonnie Andrews Jr., a recent Oscar Smith High School graduate with a football scholarship, was shot to death early Tuesday near the spot where Abbott stood.

A 17-year-old classmate, whose name is being withheld by The Virginian-Pilot because of his age, was arrested later that day and charged with first-degree murder.

"A whole lot of mistakes were made that night," Abbott told the crowd of several hundred gathered Saturday evening for a candlelight vigil.

The crowd listened silently. Many wore T-shirts with pictures of Andrews - Andrews in a white suit before prom, Andrews on the football field, Andrews on a trampoline.

Longtime friend Davon Doggett added the words "true leader" on the front of his shirt and "the good die young" on the back.

Andrews "was like my blood brother," Doggett said. "I looked up to him."

Friends Justin Rawls and Chris Harrington got tattoos with Andrews' name and birth and death dates on their arms.

It was a first for both. They said they wanted to remember.

Abbott wrapped up her short message by urging people to share stories about Andrews.

She has dozens of her own - thrift store shopping trips to find the most bizarre costumes, his Mr. T mohawk haircut, the time he came out of his room in a rainbow-colored Afro wig, skin-tight pants and a T-shirt so small it looked like it belonged on a toddler.

"I want to hear laughter out here," Abbott said, "because somebody told a funny story about Lonnie."

Thunder rumbled in the distance. A shiny blue balloon, one of several left in the cul-de-sac in the days after Andrews' death, broke loose and disappeared into the sky.

Kristin Davis, (757) 222-5208, kristin.davis@pilotonline.com