The family of 15-year-old Journee Long is speaking out following the tragic shooting that claimed the Maryland teenager’s life.
The family wants the public to remember her not for the circumstances of her death, but for the bright future she was building.
Journee, a Bowie, Maryland, resident who had recently celebrated her 15th birthday, died last Saturday evening after an unsecured firearm discharged inside an apartment on Barnaby Street in Southeast Washington, D.C.
According to police, Journee was visiting a friend, also 15, when the girls gained access to an illegal and unsecured gun inside the home. Authorities say the other teenager manipulated the weapon, causing it to fire and fatally strike Journee. Detectives have described the incident as a tragic accident.
For Journee’s family, however, the loss is immeasurable.
“She had her whole life ahead of her,” her mother said through tears in an interview with NBC Washington. “She had dreams and aspirations just like everybody else. She had things that she wanted to do, and she’ll never get to do it.”
The grieving mother said she continues to wrestle with the decision that allowed her daughter to visit the apartment that day.
“The one time I say yeah, she not coming back,” she said. “You’re going to say her name. You’re going to remember her because that’s all I have is memories.”
Journee’s sister is also pushing back against any misconceptions about the teenager, explaining that she was a typical high school student who enjoyed spending time with friends and family.
“First, I want to clear up the narrative that my sister was not playing with guns,” she said. “She was too prissy for that. She liked makeup and getting her nails done. She wanted her hair done every week. She wanted to go to the pool and have fun with her friends. She wasn’t into any violent behavior.”
Instead, her family remembers a joyful teenager who loved games, laughter, and connecting with the people she cared about.
“We played Fortnite and stuff like that, but she liked UNO. She wanted to play Roblox with her friends. She FaceTimed,” her sister recalled. “She was a joy to everybody. Everybody who knew her knew her as a light.”
Journee had just completed her freshman year at Charles Herbert Flowers High School and was looking forward to the future. Family members say she was full of promise and excitement about the years ahead.
Police have charged 32-year-old Javon Green, who lives in the apartment, with weapons-related offenses. Court documents indicate the firearm’s serial number had been obliterated. Authorities said Green was not present when the shooting occurred. Charging documents also state that the teenager who fired the weapon is Green’s goddaughter.
As the legal process moves forward, Journee’s loved ones are focused on preserving the memory of the teenager they describe as vibrant, caring, and full of life.
“My sister was a kid,” her sister said. “She would never come back home. Justice needs to be served for my sister. She’s a child.”
For a family now left with only memories, those who knew Journee hope her story serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of unsecured firearms and the importance of protecting children from preventable tragedies.
