On the evening of April 6, 2019, the life of 32-year-old Ronald L. Seawright Jr., a Black male from Charleston, West Virginia, was tragically cut short by gun violence. The shooting occurred on Maryland Avenue, on the West Side of Charleston.
Following the fatal shooting, an investigation was launched by the Charleston Police Department. This led to the identification of a suspect, Gerard Rodo Spencer, who was 35 years old at the time.
A warrant for first-degree murder was issued for Spencer in connection with Seawright's death. However, Spencer had fled the area, prompting a multi-state search. The U.S. Marshals Service joined the hunt for Spencer on May 21, 2019, after receiving information that he may have left West Virginia and had connections to the Hampton and Newport News areas of Virginia.
After nearly a year on the run, Spencer was located in Hampton, Virginia. On January 23, 2020, U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement officers converged on a residence on Hilltop Drive in Newport News. When officers announced their presence, Spencer attempted to escape by climbing out of a second-floor window at the back of the home. He was confronted by officers in the backyard and retreated back inside the house. Following a standoff that lasted approximately 45 minutes, Gerard "Rodo" Spencer surrendered to the authorities and was taken into custody without further incident. His arrest was the result of a collaborative effort between the Charleston Police Department and the U.S. Marshals for the Southern District of West Virginia.
