On the first day of the new year, a tragedy unfolded in Henrico County, Virginia, forever altering the lives of a local family. Shante M. Jones, a 34-year-old female, was fatally shot on January 1, 2024. The incident occurred just before midnight in an apartment in the 2000 block of Montbrook Lane. When Henrico Police responded to reports of a shooting, they discovered two adult females inside the residence with gunshot wounds.
Shante Jones was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The shooting left another woman with life-threatening injuries; she was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. In the days that followed, the investigation into the double shooting progressed swiftly. Detectives identified 33-year-old Rajahn Altariq Heath of Richmond as the primary suspect in the homicide.
A multi-agency effort led to the apprehension of Heath on January 8, 2024. He was located and taken into custody in Newark, New Jersey, by the FBI Newark's Violent Crimes Task Force and SWAT agents. Heath was arraigned in Essex County, New Jersey, and held on a warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution, awaiting extradition back to Henrico County. He faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder, malicious wounding, and two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, as well as possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
