Abidine Boye, a man remembered by customers as extremely kind and hardworking, was just 30 years old and had been working at a vape shop in Richmond, Virginia, for only a short time. His efforts to help those who walked into the store left a positive impression on many in the community, who were shocked and saddened by his sudden death.
In the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, September 26, 2026, the quiet of North Avenue was broken by an act of violence.
At approximately 5:29 a.m., a passerby noticed a person lying unresponsive inside the vape shop in the 4200 block of the street, near the Moss Side neighborhood. The witness immediately contacted authorities. When Richmond Police and firefighters arrived, they had to make entry into the closed business. Inside, they found Abidine Boye suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Richmond Police Department’s Major Crimes Division launched a homicide investigation. Detectives, led by Detective P. Mansfield, began gathering evidence and seeking information from the public. They soon released two surveillance photos of a possible suspect, asking for the community's help in identifying the man, who they warned should be considered armed and dangerous. Captain John Hall of the Richmond Police Department noted that Boye had not been working at the business for very long. "We are taking advantage of this opportunity to send out to the community in the hopes that either a family member, neighbor or a witness will really help us to identify, hopefully locate the suspect," Hall stated at the time.
The community responded swiftly. Just three days later, on the evening of September 29, 2026, a joint effort by Richmond Police detectives and U.S. Marshals led to the location and arrest of a suspect. Justin Regis, a 21-year-old resident of Richmond, was taken into custody without incident. Authorities charged him with armed robbery and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Police indicated that additional charges were pending as the investigation continued.
Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards publicly credited tips from the community for the quick identification and arrest of Regis. "The arrest in this tragic homicide demonstrates the power of a community working together to bring justice to the victim's family and the entire city of Richmond," Edwards said in a statement. He personally thanked the community members who came forward with critical information that allowed detectives to act swiftly. "This outcome reflects both the dedication of our investigators and the strength of our partnership with the people we serve," he added.
While an arrest was made, the case brought deep sorrow to those who knew Boye and to the wider North Side community. The question of what led to the shooting inside the shop remained under investigation. Crime Insider sources reportedly described the shooting as being like an "execution." Police continued to ask anyone with further information about the homicide to come forward.
As of late 2026, Justin Regis was facing charges in connection with Abidine Boye's death. The case was proceeding through the court system. Anyone with information was asked to contact Major Crimes Detective P. Mansfield at (804) 646-6996 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000, where tips can be submitted anonymously.
