In the early hours of a Sunday morning in Newport News, Virginia, a violent encounter shattered the quiet of a neighborhood and tragically ended the life of 45-year-old Damon Alexander. On October 22, 2023, shortly after 5:30 a.m., police were called to the 7700 block of Vernon Place, where they discovered two men suffering from gunshot wounds. Both men were rushed to a local hospital for medical attention.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Damon Alexander succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The second man who was shot during the same incident survived. The investigation that followed the shooting was swift, and authorities quickly identified a suspect in what they described as a domestic-related homicide.
Later that day, with the assistance of the James City County Police Department, 35-year-old Jerry Sanders-Carlisle was taken into custody in connection with the deadly shooting. During the arrest, a firearm was also recovered. Sanders-Carlisle was subsequently transported back to Newport News to face a series of serious charges.
Authorities charged Jerry Sanders-Carlisle with first-degree murder for the death of Damon Alexander. In addition to the murder charge, he faced two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, malicious wounding, discharging a firearm in public, and reckless handling of a firearm. While an arrest has been made, the specific motive and the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting have not been publicly detailed by law enforcement.
