In the late hours of May 5, 2023, a gathering in Hampton, Virginia, turned tragic, ending the life of Daunte DeAngelo Lee Cooper, a 39-year-old man. The Hampton Police Division received a call about a shooting in the 2100 block of East Pembroke Avenue at approximately 11:49 p.m. Upon their arrival, officers discovered Cooper suffering from gunshot wounds.
Despite the immediate response, he succumbed to his injuries.
Initial investigations by law enforcement revealed that Cooper had been at a gathering when a verbal altercation erupted between him and another man. The dispute escalated, leading to the fatal shooting. The motive and the precise circumstances surrounding the argument remain part of the ongoing investigation. Those who knew Cooper remember him as a generous and intelligent individual who left a lasting impact on everyone he met. He was a veteran of the United States Army, having served for four years as an Aircraft Powertrain Repairer, which earned him several medals, including the Iraq Campaign Medal. Following his military service, he obtained a commercial driver's license and worked as a truck driver.
In the weeks following the incident, the Hampton Police Division identified a suspect in connection with the homicide. On May 19, 2023, authorities announced they had warrants for the arrest of James Edward Pepper, a 23-year-old man from Poquoson. He was considered armed and dangerous. The search for Pepper concluded on June 12, 2023, when he was taken into custody.
Following his arrest, James Edward Pepper was charged with one count of second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and discharging a firearm in public. He also faced two capias for probation violations. The case against him is now proceeding through the legal system.
