In the winter of 2022, the life of 17-year-old Jesse Travis Hogg was tragically cut short in Portsmouth, Virginia. A senior at Manor High School and an avid baseball player since the age of five, Jesse was known for his larger-than-life presence and tremendous heart. On December 21, 2022, what began as a supposed gun sale turned into a fatal robbery.
Jesse was shot ten times on Sykes Avenue and died at the scene, leaving behind a community and a loving family to grapple with the sudden and violent loss.
The investigation into the male victim's death led to the arrest of four teenagers. The incident was orchestrated under the guise of purchasing a firearm from Hogg. During the encounter, a struggle for Hogg's gun ensued. After breaking away, Hogg reached for his weapon, at which point he was shot. Even after he had fallen to the ground, he was shot again.
One of the teens, Pharondus Clemon, who was 17 at the time of the incident, was identified by prosecutors as the main aggressor. He was accused of shooting Hogg multiple times as he lay injured on the ground. The group of suspects also included a 13-year-old and a 16-year-old, Tristan Johnson Jr. The youngest of the group, the 13-year-old, pleaded guilty in Juvenile Court.
The path to justice for Jesse Hogg's family has been fraught with legal complexities. In June 2024, Tristan Johnson Jr.'s trial for murder resulted in a hung jury, though he was acquitted on two gun charges and grand larceny and was later sentenced on lesser charges. The trial for Pharondus Clemon was set to begin in December 2025 but faced a delay due to an insufficient number of jurors. However, Clemon ultimately opted for a plea deal, pleading guilty to first-degree murder, shooting in the commission of a felony, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. His sentencing is scheduled for April 27, 2026.
