Vigil remembers 15-year-old shot and killed at hotel

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - A vigil was held for a teen shooting victim Saturday night. Family and friends lit candles and released balloons for 15-year-old Ja’Quan Howard at a park in the West End. The Hamilton County Sheriff said Howard and 20-year-old Taymar Jones were shot and killed during an attempted robbery at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Sycamore Twp. on Friday night. A third victim was shot in the foot and treated at the hospital. Howard’s uncle, Shawn Clark, said the Western Hills High School student cherished his family. “His love for his siblings. His brother and sister and mother and father. All around good kid. A smart kid. He had a passion for fashion and loved to dress nice,” said Clark. Howard’s family said he was at a Halloween party the night of the shooting and got caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time. “It's costing us our children, our brothers, fathers, nephews. It's senseless and it takes something to happen like this for us to come together as a community.” The teen would have celebrated his 16th birthday next week. Another vigil will be held on Howard’s birthday, November 6th, at Wade St. Park. It starts at 6 p.m.