On a Tuesday evening, the 14th of February, 2023, tragedy struck at the Northview Garden Apartments in Bassett, Virginia, forever altering the lives of a local family. Deshawn Marquis Ross, a 22-year-old man from Bassett, was found inside an apartment with at least one gunshot wound to his abdomen. Despite the efforts of Henry County Public Safety EMS who were called to the scene at 6:50 p.m., Ross succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the apartment complex.
The incident, which occurred on Valentine's Day, left his family, including his fiancée and two children, grappling with a sudden and violent loss.
The investigation into the death of Deshawn Ross quickly pointed to a suspect. According to the Henry County Sheriff's Office, an argument between Ross and another individual escalated, leading to the fatal shooting. Investigators identified Jahari Keontae Pritchett, a 22-year-old from Martinsville, as the alleged shooter who fled the scene after the incident. The following morning, at approximately 6:45 a.m., law enforcement located and arrested Pritchett in the Axton area of Henry County without incident.
Following his arrest, Jahari Keontae Pritchett was charged with first-degree murder, the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a felony. He was subsequently held at the Henry County Adult Detention Center without bond. The family of Deshawn Ross, while mourning the loss of a man remembered as a great father, son, and brother, expressed their desire to see the person responsible held accountable for their actions. Ross was born on July 27, 2000, and enjoyed spending his time with family and friends, and riding four-wheelers. His family laid him to rest at the Ross/Lane/Wade Family Cemetery in Bassett.
