On a summer evening in Hampton, Virginia, the life of a talented and motivated young entrepreneur was tragically cut short. Solomon Andrew Roane, a 24-year-old Black man from Chesterfield County, was fatally shot on August 3, 2023. Known to his friends and family as 'Solo,' he had a passion for refurbishing cars, a craft he had honed since he was eleven years old and turned into his own business, Triple R Transportation.
His family described his work on cars as a form of art that reflected his creative personality.
On that fateful day, Roane traveled to Hampton with the intention of selling a car he had meticulously repaired. The meeting was arranged to take place on Bayhaven Drive. According to his brother, the encounter may have been a setup. Two individuals reportedly entered Roane's vehicle, and shortly after, gunshots rang out in the quiet neighborhood just before midnight. When police officers arrived at the 100 block of Bayhaven Drive, they found Roane suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspects fled before law enforcement arrived and have not been identified. To date, no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting, which marked the 23rd homicide in the city of Hampton for 2023. The Hampton Police Division continues to investigate the case and has urged anyone with information to come forward. Roane, a 2017 graduate of L. C. Bird High School, was remembered by his loved ones as a giving and loving individual who was deeply committed to his work and always willing to help others. His untimely death left a profound void in the lives of his family and friends, who continue to seek justice and answers in the wake of their tragic loss.
