STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A community in the Poconos is in mourning after a 17-year-old was shot and killed this weekend.
Police say it happened at a Wawa just feet away from a high school.
"It's just heartbreaking to lose a young one. And he was a sweet boy," said Stroudsburg resident Sharon Nedd.
Nedd's daughter was friends with the victim of Saturday's deadly shooting in Stroudsburg. She says it was a senseless act of violence.
"They're young, they're our future, to be honest, and I feel sorry for the mom," Nedd explained.
Another local parent we spoke with shared a similar sentiment.
"I have a 17-year-old so to hear that another 17-year-old lost his life for probably words is sad," said Emmanuel Vazquez from Stroudsburg.
Traffic at standstill on Interstate 81 in Hanover TownshipAccording to police, the shooting took place at the Wawa on West Main Street in Stroudsburg Saturday night, right across the street from Stroudsburg High School.
Police say the 17-year-old victim and at least one other person got into an argument before someone pulled a gun.
The teen was shot in the neck. He later died at the hospital.
Vazquez says after what happened, he hopes to see more police near the Wawa.
The store is a popular hangout spot for teens.
"Usually there's a lot of problems here. Kids get, usually get into fights all the time over arguments over words so yeah they should have a cop here maybe just to watch after school and make sure none of these kids get into altercations," Vazquez explained.
The victim's classmates expressed both sadness and fear about the shooting, noting what happened hit far too close to home.
"It makes me a little, like, worried cause I live so close to the area and it's just, like, kinda weird and it stresses me out, my mom out," a classmate of the victim said.
"Since school's right there and it was right across the street it's just scary, like it could happen to anyone," another classmate of the victim explained.
Police say the suspect fled the scene and they believe it's an isolated incident.
There has been no word on any arrests.