In the spring of 2023, the life of Jonathan Johnson Jr., a 25-year-old man from Norfolk, Virginia, was tragically cut short. On the evening of May 6th, Johnson was in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven located in the 500 block of Aberdeen Road in Hampton. He was accompanied by another 25-year-old Norfolk man, Keshawn Hawkins. It was in this ordinary setting that violence erupted, forever altering the lives of their families.
When police officers arrived at the scene, they discovered both
Johnson and Hawkins suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite the immediate response and efforts to render aid, neither man could be saved. Both Jonathan Johnson Jr. and Keshawn Hawkins were pronounced dead at the scene, their deaths marking another grim entry in the region's growing list of homicides for the year. The Hampton Police Department quickly launched a thorough investigation into the double homicide.
In the days that followed, the investigation appeared to be making progress. On May 8, 2023, authorities released photographs of individuals they believed to be suspects in the shooting, seeking the public's assistance in identifying them. However, despite this initial step, no arrests in connection with the murders of Jonathan Johnson Jr. and Keshawn Hawkins have been publicly announced. The case officially remains an open and active investigation.
Jonathan Johnson Jr., known to some as 'Lil John John,' was a Black male who had served in the United States Army as a Diesel Mechanic after graduating from Granby High School's ROTC program. He was remembered as a loving father with a great sense of humor who enjoyed joking and laughing. His unexpected and violent death left behind a grieving family, including his wife and children, who continue to await justice.
