The life of James “JJ” R. Griffin III, a 22-year-old Black man, was cut short by gun violence in the summer of 2023. James, who had attended Winston-Salem State University, was from Roanoke, Virginia.
On the evening of July 10, 2023, a fatal shooting occurred in Roanoke. When police arrived at the scene, they found that James Griffin had been killed. An investigation into his death was launched immediately.
Following the investigation, police arrested 18-year-old Ja'Zion Robertson. He was charged with murder and two additional felony offenses in connection with Griffin’s death. Robertson was arraigned in Roanoke General District Court on July 12. Later, two co-defendants, Nathaneal I. Keith and Cydney B. Williams, were also arrested and charged with felony offenses connected to the homicide.
James’s father, James R. Griffin Jr., expressed his hope for justice and his relief that an arrest had been made. “There’s so many questions that are going unanswered. But I’m glad that you have somebody in custody,” he said. “There are so many cases in our neighborhood that go unsolved… But at least I know that person’s off the street. You can’t hurt anybody else over something stupid.”
As of August 2023, the cases against the three defendants were proceeding through the court system.
