August 19, 2019 | by Deirdre Byrne

Paint Branch Alumnus Killed Days Before Starting College at Bowie State

Photo via Facebook

Montgomery County Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is investigating the homicide of a young man found dead in his home in Burtonsville on Saturday.

Damion Callery Jr., 18, of Burtonsville, was shot and killed, police say. Callery recently graduated from Paint Branch High School and was getting ready to start college at Bowie State University this fall.

Police were alerted about a shooting on Saturday at 3:43 a.m. Responding officers found Callery dead inside his home on the 14100 block of Angelton Terrace in Burtonsville.

Detectives determined Callery encountered an armed suspect, or armed suspects, in his backyard when he was shot. When police arrived, Callery’s body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Police say the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information should contact the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070. People can also contact the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County anonymously at 1-866-411-8477.

Family and Friends Remember Damion Callery Jr.

Many of Damion Callery Jr.’s friends and family members have been openly grieving, wondering why Callery was killed.

Damion Callery Sr., the father of Callery Jr., shared a WUSA9 video to his Facebook page about his son’s death, with the caption: “I love and miss you baby!!! Until we meet again!!”

Callery Sr. told WUSA9 that his son’s bedroom was located in the basement, which opens to the outside.

“He was on the right path and someone stopped all that,” Callery Sr. said in an interview.

Callery Jr. was planning on studying business and marketing in college and aspired to one day work in the stock market, Callery Sr. told WUSA9.

Many of Callery Jr.’s friends and family members gathered to mourn Callery Jr.’s death outside of his home in Burtonsville.

Some family members told The Washington Post they hoped Callery Jr.’s death could bring more attention to gun violence.

A GoFundMe page was started to help raise money for  Callery Jr.’s funeral expenses. Dozens of people have sent in donations.

Paint Branch, Bowie College Mourn Callery Jr.

Community members at Bowie State University and Paint Branch High are mourning the loss of Damion Callery Jr.

Bowie State sent MyMCMedia a statement from Aminta H. Breaux, the university president, about Callery’s death:

Bowie State University is mourning the tragic death of another member of our community within a week. We learned through media reports that Damion Callery, Jr., an incoming freshman student, was killed by gunfire from an unknown assailant at his home in Burtonsville on Saturday night.

Damion attended a recent New Student Orientation session and was set to begin classes next week. He had a bright future ahead of him, and the Bowie State community feels the emotional toll of this tremendous loss to the class of 2023. I have expressed our sincerest condolences to the Callery family during this difficult time of grief.

Myriam Yarbrough, principal of Paint Branch High School, emailed families Sunday about Callery’s death. In her email, she included a document from the National Association of School Psychologists with tips to help parents talk to children about grief.

Dear Paint Branch Family,

It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of the death of Damion Callery Jr. ‘19. Damion was a kind and dedicated Panther who was scheduled to attend Bowie State University in the fall.

Our counselors and pupil personnel worker will be available to provide support to students and staff on Monday. Students may have questions and concerns about this loss. Please find some resources attached to this letter that may be helpful to your family.

Please join me in extending heartfelt sympathies to the Callery family and keeping them in your thoughts during this incredibly difficult time.

Sincerely,
Dr. Myriam A. Yarbrough
Principal

Many in the Montgomery County Public Schools community have taken to Twitter to honor Callery’s life.

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Deirdre Byrne

About Deirdre Byrne

Deirdre Byrne is a social media coordinator for Montgomery Community Media. She can be reached at dbyrne@mymcmedia.org or on twitter at @DeirdreByrneMCM.
View all posts by Deirdre Byrne

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