In the early hours of May 25, 2024, the life of 33-year-old Modrelle Britt was tragically cut short in Portsmouth, Virginia. A Black male, Britt was discovered by Portsmouth Police at approximately 1:19 a.m. in the 20 block of Dale Drive, suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. Despite the immediate response and medical attention provided at the scene, his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
The incident took place in the Dale Homes neighborhood, a community that has reportedly been grappling with ongoing violence.
The investigation into Britt's death quickly led authorities to identify a primary suspect: 35-year-old Tony Alonzo Collins Jr., who is also known by the nickname 'Knuckles.' Collins is now wanted on multiple serious charges, including first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, malicious shooting, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As of early July 2024, Portsmouth Police were actively searching for Collins, who they consider to be armed and dangerous. He is described as being six feet tall and weighing 180 pounds.
The shooting has left the local community shaken, with residents of the Dale Homes neighborhood expressing concerns about their safety. Local activists have called upon city leaders to take more substantial action to address the persistent violence that plagues the area. The death of Modrelle Britt marks another grim statistic in the city's struggle with violent crime and has prompted renewed calls for community-based solutions to curb the bloodshed.
