In the early morning hours of a Monday in February, a devastating act of violence shattered the quiet of a Henrico County neighborhood. On February 19, 2024, in his own home on Stony Valley Drive, 18-year-old Jontay Alonzo Bennett, a young Black man, was shot. The incident prompted a swift response from Henrico Police and Fire departments, who arrived at the scene at approximately 8:44 a.m.
to find Jontay suffering from a gunshot wound.
Emergency responders provided immediate aid to the teenager before he was rushed to a local hospital. Tragically, the injuries he sustained were too severe, and Jontay Bennett was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival. Those who knew him described him as a vibrant, handsome, and energetic young man with a bright future ahead of him. His life was cut short, leaving an irreplaceable void in the lives of his family, particularly his mother and sister, who are now faced with the immense challenge of moving forward without their beloved son and brother.
In the wake of the shooting, the Henrico Police Criminal Investigative Section launched a thorough investigation. Their efforts quickly identified a suspect, Victor Lamar Douglas. In a significant development, Douglas was apprehended during a traffic stop on Interstate 95 in Henrico County. He has since been charged with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Following his arrest, Douglas was held in the Henrico County Jail. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have encouraged anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward.
