Do you know who murdered 24 year old Dennis Coleman? In the cool autumn night of October 9, 2014, a tragic story unfolded in the South Norfolk area of Chesapeake, Virginia, forever altering the lives of one family. On that evening, a 24-year-old Black male named Dennis Coleman was walking through his neighborhood, a familiar routine that would soon take a devastating turn. As he passed by a dumpster on Fairview Street just before 10 p.m., the night's quiet was shattered by the sound of gunfire.
Witnesses in the vicinity reported hearing
several gunshots ring out in quick succession. Some peered out to see a horrifying scene: an unidentified individual repeatedly firing at Dennis. The brazen attack left him with multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency services were called, and he was rushed to Norfolk General Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Despite the urgent medical attention he received, the wounds proved too severe, and Dennis Coleman was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.
The Chesapeake Police Department's Crimes Against Persons Squad immediately launched a homicide investigation into the violent death. Detectives canvassed the neighborhood, speaking with potential witnesses and searching for any evidence that might lead them to the person or persons responsible. However, the assailant had vanished into the night, leaving a community in fear and a family heartbroken. In the years that have followed, investigators have continued to seek answers.
To date, the murder of Dennis Coleman remains an unsolved cold case. No arrests have ever been made in connection with his shooting, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The Chesapeake Police Department continues to urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward and help bring closure to his grieving family. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the Chesapeake Crime Line, with the hope that one day, justice for Dennis will be served.
