In the afternoon hours of a Tuesday in Newport News, Virginia, the life of 21-year-old Amari Jeray Maxwell, a Black man, was cut tragically short. On December 17, 2024, at approximately 3:31 p.m., the sound of gunfire echoed on Traverse Road. When Newport News Police officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Maxwell suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound.
He was rushed to a local hospital, but his injuries proved to be too severe, and he succumbed to them.
Amari was walking with his girlfriend and her two-year-old daughter when the shooting occurred. According to his father, Carlos Russell, Amari urged his girlfriend to run with her daughter to safety. As he ran behind them, he was shot. His father recounted the harrowing experience of receiving a FaceTime call from a neighbor, showing him his son lying on the ground. This devastating event has left his family grappling with an unimaginable loss.
Known as a loving and energetic young man, Amari had a passion for music and would often rap with his siblings. A 2021 graduate of Warwick High School, he also loved football and was a dedicated employee at a local McDonald's, a place he considered his second home. His family and friends remember his positive nature, his laugh, and his goofy personality. In the wake of his death, family, friends, and coworkers gathered to honor his memory, sharing stories and even bringing his favorite strawberry cream pies from McDonald's to the vigil.
The Newport News Police Department is actively investigating the homicide. To date, no information about a suspect has been released to the public, and no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward to assist in the investigation and bring justice for Amari Maxwell and his grieving family.
