In the early morning hours of September 26, 2024, the body of Manchee Edwards Jr., a 23-year-old Black man, was discovered in a South Richmond neighborhood. A passerby found him just before 7:15 a.m. in the front yard of an abandoned house on the 200 block of Richmond Highway. He had been shot and was pronounced dead at the scene.
His mother, Elizabeth Ogburn, remembered the last words her only son spoke to her: "Bye mom, I'll be back later and I love you!"
She said that just days before his murder, Edwards had told her he felt someone was after him, but he did not elaborate or provide any details. Ogburn believes her son may have been robbed, as she said certain personal items were missing from him when he was found. She pleaded for anyone with information to come forward.
Following an investigation into the homicide, Richmond Police arrested two individuals in connection with the crime. The suspects were identified as 46-year-old Kellie Johnson and 51-year-old Douglas Harris.
On December 2, 2024, a grand jury indicted both Johnson and Harris on charges of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. As of December 2024, the case against the two suspects was proceeding through the legal system. The investigation remains open, and anyone with information is asked to call Major Crimes Detective P. Ripley at 804-646-0423 or Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.
