On a spring afternoon in Portsmouth, Virginia, the life of 20-year-old Ja'Son Randolph was tragically cut short. On April 11, 2023, Randolph was fatally shot in the parking lot of a shopping center on Turnpike Road. The incident occurred just before 5 p.m. near a Dunkin' Donuts.
According to reports from the scene, Randolph was seen running across Turnpike Road from a nearby neighborhood and entering a vape store. After a few minutes, he exited the store and went to the Dunkin' Donuts.
It was then that a car approached, and an occupant fired multiple shots, killing him at the scene.
The Portsmouth Police Department launched a homicide investigation that led to the arrests of two suspects. D'utario Harris, 21, and Dwan Weston, 22, were taken into custody and faced charges of first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and destruction of property.
In November 2024, a jury found D'utario Harris guilty of second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Ja'Son Randolph. His sentencing was scheduled for January 30, 2025.
