In the late hours of a Saturday in Newport News, Virginia, the life of Robert Earl Carter, a 60-year-old man, was tragically cut short. On September 30, 2023, the sound of gunfire pierced the night in the 800 block of 36th Street, not far from Marshall Avenue. Officers were dispatched to the scene following a ShotSpotter alert, a system designed to detect and locate gunshots.
Upon their arrival, they discovered Mr. Carter suffering from at least one gunshot wound.
Despite any efforts to render aid, he succumbed to his injuries at the scene. In the days that followed, Newport News police identified him as the victim of the fatal shooting. Friends and family remembered him by his nickname, 'Fat Cat.'
As of the initial reports, law enforcement had not released any information regarding a potential suspect or suspects in the shooting. The investigation was ongoing, and authorities appealed to the public for any information that could lead to an arrest, encouraging witnesses to contact the Crime Line. The circumstances surrounding the shooting and a motive remained under investigation.
