On the evening of October 19, 2024, in Albemarle County, Virginia, a burst of gunfire shattered the night in the 1600 block of Rio Hill Drive, near the Fashion Square Mall. When Albemarle County Police and Fire Rescue units arrived at the scene around 8 p.m., they discovered the body of 23-year-old Zerrion Eubanks-Warfield, a Black male from Charlottesville. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. Another individual was found with non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the University of Virginia Medical Center for treatment. The sheer number of gunshots fired resulted in damage to several vehicles and nearby apartments, turning a residential area into a crime scene.
Investigators quickly determined that the shooting was likely gang-related, prompting an increased police presence in the area as the Albemarle County Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division launched an active and ongoing investigation. Authorities appealed to the public for any information that could lead to the identification of those responsible for the violence that took a young man's life and endangered many others. The community was left shaken by the incident, with some residents describing the sound of the gunfire as being like fireworks or a war zone.
Months later, a significant development in the case occurred with the arrest of three men in connection with the October shootings. Nineteen-year-old Raymond Carter Jr. and 24-year-old Darnell Morris Jr., both of Charlottesville, along with 20-year-old Kaveigh Palmer of Richmond, were taken into custody. Each of the three suspects faces seven charges, which include aggravated malicious wounding, shooting with intent to maim or kill by a mob, and participation in gang activity. Despite these arrests, authorities have clarified that, at this time, no charges have been filed directly related to the death of Zerrion Eubanks-Warfield. The investigation into his death remains active, and police continue to seek information from the community.
