In the early moments of the new year, tragedy struck in Virginia Beach, Virginia, forever altering the lives of a local family. Just 30 minutes into January 1, 2026, 19-year-old Jeremiah Cuffee became the first shooting death victim in the region for the year. The fatal incident occurred at a New Year's Eve party on Frazier Lane. According to reports, emergency services received a call about a gunshot wound at 12:29 a.m. and arrived to find Cuffee injured.
He was quickly transported to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
Jeremiah, a resident of Chesapeake, was remembered as a driven and hardworking young man with a promising future. He was a student-athlete who had played football at Green Run High School and later graduated from Landstown High School in 2024. His family described him as humble, kind-hearted, and possessing a quiet strength. In the wake of his death, his father established a GoFundMe page to assist with funeral expenses, where he shared the profound loss felt by Jeremiah's parents and five brothers.
The investigation into the homicide was led by the Virginia Beach Police Department's Homicide Unit. Their efforts led to the identification of a suspect, 19-year-old De'Vion Williams of Virginia Beach. On January 12, 2026, with the assistance of U.S. Marshals, Williams was apprehended in North Carolina. He has been charged with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. While an arrest has been made, the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Jeremiah Cuffee's death remains ongoing.
