A pickup basketball game turned deadly on the evening of March 9, 2026, when gunfire erupted at the Potomac Shores community courts in Dumfries, Virginia, killing an 18-year-old college student and wounding four others.
Louis Anthony Boone, a freshman at Norfolk State University and 2025 graduate of Freedom High School in Woodbridge, was playing basketball with friends when a confrontation with another group escalated into violence. Boone was struck by a bullet and later died at a hospital. He was home on spring break at the time of the shooting.
Boone was studying mass communications and worked as a photographer for The Spartan Echo, his university’s student newspaper. Friends and family described him as kind, hardworking, and full of life. He loved basketball and dreamed of playing in the NBA. His favorite player was Carmelo Anthony. A close friend said, “He was not affiliated with anything. He was Louis. He just loved playing basketball. He just so happened to be there. Wrong place, wrong time.”
The shooting occurred in the 1800 block of Potomac Shores Parkway, a recreational area within a master-planned community known for its family-friendly atmosphere. Police said a fight broke out during the basketball game, leading to an exchange of gunfire. Four other young men, ages 16 to 20, were also shot. All survived their injuries.
Prince William County Police have arrested multiple suspects in connection with the shooting. A 17-year-old male from Woodbridge, who was also injured in the shooting, was charged after being released from the hospital. Ryan Alexander Butler, 20, of Triangle, was arrested on March 13 and charged with second-degree murder.
Kennsington Duane Adams, 18, of Dumfries, was arrested on April 8. A fourth suspect has also been charged. Police continue to search for J’Shaun Zomari Williams, 19, of Gainesville, who is wanted on charges including murder and use of a firearm in a felony.
Candlelight vigils have been held in Boone’s memory. Friends, family, and school officials from Freedom High School and Norfolk State University have shared tributes, remembering a young man who had turned his life around and was focused on his education and future.
The shooting has left the Dumfries community searching for answers. A recreational space where young people gathered to play basketball is now the site of a tragedy that claimed an 18-year-old with a big smile and even bigger dreams. Police urge anyone with information about the shooting to contact Prince William County detectives at 703-792-6500. The investigation remains active and ongoing.