On a Christmas night that should have been filled with holiday cheer, a gathering in Portsmouth, Virginia, turned into a scene of tragedy, ending the life of 34-year-old Johnnie Cleveland Gore Freeman. Known affectionately as JC to his friends and family, he was a father of four daughters and a skilled handyman who was well-regarded in his community.
The evening of December 25, 2022, found Mr. Freeman at a holiday party hosted at the home of Ra'Mya Stewart.
An altercation reportedly broke out inside the residence involving Freeman, Stewart, and one of her relatives. Following the dispute, Mr. Freeman went outside and was standing with his girlfriend when the violence escalated dramatically. From the porch of her home, Ra'Mya Stewart fired a gun, striking Freeman in the head. Emergency medical personnel were called to the scene on Allard Road, but his injury was fatal, and he was pronounced dead shortly before 11:15 p.m.
In the aftermath of the shooting, 28-year-old Ra'Mya Stewart turned herself in to the authorities. She was subsequently charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and shooting in the commission of a felony. After a two-day trial in November 2023, a jury found Stewart guilty of the charges against her. In January 2024, she was sentenced to serve 26 years in prison for her role in the death of Johnnie Freeman, bringing a measure of closure to a case that tragically cut short a man's life on a day of celebration.
