On a Friday night in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on July 18, 2025, a young man’s life was cut short. Jamele Newby-Gibson, a 20-year-old male, was found lying in the road in the 5500 block of New Colony Drive just before 10 p.m. Police had responded to reports of a shooting and discovered Newby-Gibson with an apparent gunshot wound. Emergency responders provided life-saving efforts before he was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
The Virginia Beach Police
Department’s Homicide Unit immediately launched an extensive investigation into the shooting. Their efforts quickly led to the identification of a suspect, 19-year-old Nashaun Reid of Virginia Beach. Within six hours of the incident, detectives had apprehended and charged Reid in connection with Newby-Gibson's death. Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate commended the swift action of the first responding officers and detectives, stating their work removed a dangerous individual from the community and brought a quick resolution to the grieving family.
Nashaun Reid was charged with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. According to court records, Reid initially admitted to investigators that he was the one who shot and killed Jamele Newby-Gibson. However, in a subsequent jailhouse interview, Reid denied this confession and the crime itself. He admitted to seeing Newby-Gibson that night and stated he felt threatened when Newby-Gibson leaned into his car and put his hands in his jacket. Reid claimed there was a history of threats between them conveyed through text messages. Despite this, he maintained that he drove off, heard a sound, and kept driving, denying that he pulled the trigger.
