In the late evening hours of Saturday, August 16, 2025, a gathering at the Harvard Apartments in Chesapeake, Virginia, took a fatal turn. Twenty-eight-year-old Gilberto Mendoza Ramos, a male resident of Chesapeake, was attending what neighbors described as a large party in a cul-de-sac on Harvard Drive. Around 10:44 p.m., the sound of a gunshot pierced the night, prompting a 911 call about an injured person.
When Chesapeake Police Department officers and emergency medical services arrived at the 2600 block of Harvard Drive, they found Gilberto Mendoza Ramos suffering from a single gunshot wound. First responders immediately began life-saving efforts before transporting him to a local hospital. Despite their attempts, he succumbed to his injury and was pronounced deceased. The incident marked the fifth shooting in Chesapeake that month, contributing to a growing concern over gun violence in the community.
The investigation into the homicide progressed quickly. Initially, police had not identified a suspect, but within a few days, they announced that a person of interest had been identified. Witnesses reported seeing a red car leave the scene right after the shooting. Four days after the tragic event, authorities arrested 21-year-old Cesar Anibal Ramirez Roque in connection with the killing.
Cesar Anibal Ramirez Roque was charged with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Following his arrest, he was held at the Chesapeake City Jail. Public records indicated that he was being held on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer. His next court appearance was scheduled for October 22. The Chesapeake Police Department continued to investigate the circumstances that led to the deadly shooting.
