In the winter of 2023, the life of 26-year-old Nekaybaw Ernestine Scott was tragically cut short in her Newport News, Virginia, apartment. On February 7th, concern grew for Nekaybaw when her mother and grandmother could not reach her. Their worst fears were realized when they arrived at her home to find her deceased in a pool of blood just outside her apartment door. The scene inside told a story of a violent struggle; the apartment was in disarray with blood spatter staining the interior.
An autopsy would later reveal that Nekaybaw had suffered scrapes, bruises, and lacerations to her head and face, and had been fatally wounded by a. 38 caliber bullet to her left shoulder that damaged her lungs.
The investigation into the death of the young woman quickly focused on her 26-year-old ex-boyfriend, Adjascent White, who had a history of abusing and assaulting her. A neighbor reported hearing a woman yell 'stop hitting me' multiple times, followed by two gunshots, from Nekaybaw's apartment the day before her body was discovered. When questioned by police, White denied having been at the apartment for three weeks. However, his cell phone records placed him in the vicinity of her home on both February 6th and 7th. Further evidence mounted against him when investigators discovered his DNA under Nekaybaw’s fingernails and his blood at the scene of the crime. During an interview with police, he attempted to conceal injuries to his hand.
Following his arrest, an examination of Adjascent White's phone revealed incriminating internet searches. He had searched for Nekaybaw’s name, “woman shot in Newport News,” and “can you die from a getting a gun shot to the shoulder.” He also looked into whether there were cameras in the area of her apartment, how long his phone company kept records, and if a bullet could be traced without a gun. In June 2024, a jury found Adjascent White guilty of first-degree murder and two firearms charges. During the trial, White claimed for the first time that he had shot Nekaybaw in self-defense after she allegedly tried to stab him with a small kitchen knife that was found under her body. The jury rejected his account, and he was subsequently sentenced to life in prison, with an additional five years for the firearms charges. The judge noted White's extensive criminal history and prior domestic violence charges during sentencing.
