In the summer of 2025, a burst of violence shattered a quiet afternoon in a Hopewell, Virginia neighborhood, leaving a man and his dog dead. On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at approximately 4:14 p.m., police were called to the 1500 block of Piper Square Drive after receiving reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers discovered 37-year-old Endraqus Thomal Range, a Black male, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Despite the efforts of first responders, he succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Tragically, Range's dog was also shot and killed during the incident.
The Hopewell Police Department's Criminal Investigations Unit immediately launched a homicide investigation. Their work quickly led to the identification of a suspect. The following day, authorities announced the arrest of 21-year-old Dayon Elijah Williams, also of Hopewell, in connection with the fatal shooting.
Williams was taken into custody and faces multiple serious charges, including second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and animal cruelty. Following his arrest, he was transported to Riverside Regional Jail, where he is being held without bond. While an arrest has been made, the investigation into the motive and the circumstances leading up to the deadly confrontation is ongoing. Authorities have encouraged anyone with information about the incident to come forward and assist detectives in piecing together the events that led to the death of Endraqus Thomal Range.
