In the late afternoon of August 11, 2023, a life was tragically cut short in Axton, Virginia. Antwain Royqwell-Garifield Hampton, a 24-year-old male, was at a residence on Axton Road when an altercation broke out. The dispute escalated, and a firearm was produced, leading to Hampton suffering a gunshot wound.
A friend of Hampton’s rushed him to SOVAH Health of Danville, arriving around 5:09 p.m. Despite the efforts to save him, Hampton succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Pittsylvania County Sheriff's investigators were the first to respond to the hospital and, after interviewing the friend who brought him in, they determined the shooting had occurred in neighboring Henry County.
The Henry County Sheriff's Office was notified and their deputies and investigators quickly descended upon the alleged scene of the crime at 7064 Axton Road. Unsure if any suspects were still inside, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team was called in to secure the location. They executed a search warrant and found the home empty. Investigators worked through the night, meticulously processing the scene for evidence.
Through their investigation, authorities identified Akeem Laquan Clark, a 33-year-old from Axton, as the suspect in Hampton's death. Warrants were issued for his arrest on charges of second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a felony. Law enforcement has asked for the public's assistance in locating Clark.
