On the morning of December 31, 2022, a tragic event unfolded in the Prentis Park neighborhood of Portsmouth, Virginia, leading to the death of 34-year-old William A. Jones. A Black male, Jones was discovered by Portsmouth police near the intersection of Randolph Street and Atlanta Avenue suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency services transported him to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital for medical attention, but he ultimately succumbed to the severity of his injuries and passed away.
Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, William A. Jones was a former member of the U.S. Navy and worked as a self-employed massage therapist. He was a family man, survived by his wife and three children.
The investigation into the shooting progressed quickly, and within days, law enforcement identified a suspect. On January 4, 2023, the Portsmouth Police Department arrested 39-year-old Carlton J. Dillard in connection with the death of Jones. Following his arrest, Dillard was charged with several serious offenses, including first-degree murder, shooting in the commission of a felony, use of a firearm, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The arrest brought a swift, though not final, development to a case that had abruptly ended the life of a man remembered as a dedicated member of his community.
