In the early evening of December 5, 2024, a dispute outside a residence in the 5100 block of Goldsboro Drive in Hampton, Virginia, escalated into a violent encounter that claimed the life of 23-year-old Brandon R. Herman of Newport News. A male, Herman was a graduate of Williamsburg Christian Academy and was remembered for his dedication to community service and his protective nature over his younger siblings and cousins.
Just after 7 p.m., Hampton police responded to a report of a
shooting and discovered Herman suffering from life-threatening gunshot wounds. A short time later, a second victim, a 26-year-old woman, was found nearby in the 5000 block of West Mercury Boulevard with non-life-threatening injuries. Both individuals were transported to a local hospital, where Herman succumbed to his injuries.
The initial investigation suggested that the shooting was the result of a dispute among several people and was considered an isolated incident. The Hampton Police Division's Major Crimes Unit immediately began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
In the weeks that followed, authorities identified two suspects in connection with the homicide. On December 23, 2024, the Hampton Police Division announced they were seeking Jecari Smith and Ayil Floyd for questioning. By January 16, 2025, both men had been arrested. Jecari Anthony Smith, a 22-year-old from Hampton, was charged with one count of second-degree murder and one count of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. Ayil Jeremiah Floyd, a 20-year-old, also from Hampton, faced charges of attempted murder, aggravated malicious wounding, and shooting into an occupied vehicle, along with two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony.
