On the evening of Tuesday, December 9, 2025, emergency responders in Newport News, Virginia, were called to a violent scene in the 11700 block of Jefferson Avenue. Police officers arrived just before 6:30 p.m. to find 44-year-old male Howard Mitchell Davis II suffering from a gunshot wound near a local Popeye's restaurant. The victim was quickly transported to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment, but despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead approximately 30 minutes
later.
Detectives immediately cordoned off a large section of the commercial area to search for evidence, disrupting access to several businesses along the busy corridor. The initial investigation suggested the shooting took place in the parking lot or immediate vicinity of the fast-food establishment. Davis, a resident of Carrollton, Virginia, was born in Germany and was survived by his father and extended family.
As the investigation continued into the following week, authorities had not yet identified a suspect or determined a motive for the homicide. No arrests were made in direct connection with the death of Howard Mitchell Davis II during the initial stages of the inquiry. The Newport News Police Department requested that anyone with information regarding the incident contact the Crime Line or submit tips anonymously to aid in their search for the person responsible.
