A dispute that began inside a Chesterfield County, Virginia home tragically ended with the shooting death of 28-year-old Barbie Mirella Perez on the evening of April 13, 2026. Perez, a mother to a three-month-old daughter named Dream, was shot multiple times outside of her family's residence on Shady Creek Road. Witnesses reported hearing as many as 10 shots fired.
The incident unfolded after an argument with the child's father, 33-year-old Javvante Blackton.
According to court documents and witness statements, an argument and physical altercation began inside the home. Perez's mother and her mother's boyfriend were present and witnessed the events. Blackton then walked outside, and Perez followed him to his car. It was at that point that Blackton fired multiple shots, not only striking Perez but also hitting nearby homes and parked vehicles. After the shooting, Blackton fled the scene, abandoning his car nearby and continuing his escape on foot.
Following a search that lasted less than a day, Javvante Blackton of Henrico was arrested on Tuesday, with assistance from the US Marshals Service. He has been charged with second-degree murder and is currently being held without bond at the Riverside Regional Jail. Friends and family remember Perez as a kind-hearted and spirited woman who was a loving mother, daughter, sister, and friend. The community has rallied around her family, creating a memorial at the site of her death and setting up fundraisers and donation drives to support her infant daughter.
