In the late evening hours of Wednesday, February 26, 2025, a burst of violence shattered the night in Hampton, Virginia, leaving a young Black/African American man dead and another seriously injured. Patrick McWanza Hewett Jr., a 25-year-old male, was discovered inside a vehicle in the vicinity of LaSalle Avenue and Mercury Boulevard, suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite the swift response of Hampton Police and Fire and Rescue personnel, Hewett was pronounced dead at the scene.
The shooting itself is believed to have taken place in the 400 block of Michigan Avenue. A second individual in the vehicle sustained life-threatening injuries and was rushed to a local hospital for treatment.
The incident prompted an intensive homicide and maiming investigation by the Hampton Police Division's Major Crimes Unit. For months, the circumstances surrounding the shooting remained under investigation, with authorities appealing to the public for any information that could lead to the identification of a suspect. The community was left to mourn a young man described as kind and humble, with a heart for serving others. At the time of his death, Hewett was on the cusp of a new chapter, preparing to launch a landscaping business with his God-brother in the first week of March, a venture for which they had already secured several contracts.
Several months later, a significant development in the case brought a measure of progress for those seeking justice for Patrick Hewett. On June 11, 2025, the Hampton Police Division announced the arrest of Caleb Marquise Dillard, a 23-year-old man from the neighboring city of Newport News. Dillard was taken into custody in connection with the February shooting. He faces a slate of serious charges, including one count of 2nd Degree Murder, one count of Aggravated Malicious Wounding, and one count of Discharging a Firearm near a Dwelling. Additionally, he was charged with two counts of Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony. The arrest marked a critical turning point in the investigation, offering the first steps toward legal resolution in the tragic and untimely death of Patrick Hewett.
