On a summer morning in Chester, Virginia, the lives of two men were tragically cut short in an act of violence that authorities would later describe as domestic-related. On July 24, 2026, 34-year-old Philip Avery Wilson was at his job at a Virginia Department of Transportation equipment staging area when gunfire erupted. Wilson, along with his co-worker and friend, 30-year-old Rai'Shon Eugene Delarge, were both shot. Delarge was pronounced dead at the scene, while Wilson was rushed to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. Both men, who were employed by a VDOT contractor, had recently relocated from Emporia to the Richmond area to start their new jobs together.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly led authorities to identify a suspect: 37-year-old Dennikia Rachelle Boyce. Boyce, a former correctional officer, was known to one of the victims, and sources close to the investigation indicated that she had been in a romantic relationship with one of the men that had recently ended. Virginia State Police have charged Boyce with two counts of second-degree murder, but she fled the scene after the shooting and remains at large. The U.S. Marshals Service has joined the search for Boyce and has classified her case as a major investigation, offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to her arrest. Authorities have described her as a Black female, approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing around 160 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, and they have warned the public that she is considered armed and dangerous.
The aftermath of this tragedy has left two families grappling with an immeasurable loss. Philip Avery Wilson is remembered by his mother as a loving son and a devoted father to his young son, Elisha. In a heart-wrenching twist, Wilson's mother revealed that her son had welcomed Delarge into his home to help him escape an abusive relationship. The case, as it stands, is a painful narrative of a violent act that claimed two lives, leaving behind grieving families and a suspect who has yet to be brought to justice. The investigation remains active as law enforcement continues their search for Dennikia Boyce to answer for the charges against her.
