On a tragic evening in Hampton, Virginia, the life of 25-year-old Destiny Layton was cut short in a burst of gunfire. On January 30, 2023, Layton, who was eight months pregnant, was at an apartment complex on Salisbury Way with 24-year-old Dijonte Nash when the shooting occurred. Nash was pronounced dead at the scene, while Layton was rushed to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, both she and her unborn baby girl, who her family later named Si'Mora Destini Layton-Nash, succumbed to the wounds.
Destiny was a mother to four young children, all aged seven or younger at the time of her death. Remembered by her loved ones as a joyous and vibrant individual, she was a graduate of Phoebus High School where she had been a cheerleader. Her mother, Alissa Hendry, described her as having a big heart and always caring for others. The loss has deeply affected her family and the wider Hampton community, leaving behind a void for her four surviving children and a family desperate for answers.
In the wake of the triple homicide, the Hampton Police Department launched an investigation. However, the case has proven to be challenging. More than a year after the fatal shooting, no arrests have been made, and authorities have not publicly identified any suspects or a potential motive. Law enforcement officials have appealed to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information to come forward to help bring justice to the families of Destiny Layton, her unborn child, and Dijonte Nash. The case remains an open and active investigation, with a family still grieving and a community awaiting a resolution.
