Jerome E. Fitzgerald, a 59-year-old male, was fatally shot on December 12, 2022, in Roanoke, Virginia. He was born on October 30, 1963, in Washington, DC. Known as a 'people person' who never met a stranger, he was remembered for his positive energy and willingness to help others. Fitzgerald was an employee at various restaurants throughout the Roanoke Valley and had attended Roanoke City Public Schools.
The incident that led to his death was the 18th fatal shooting in Roanoke in 2022. In connection with the shooting, Quantas Lee Howard, 46, of Roanoke, was arrested and faced multiple felony charges. These charges included first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Howard was indicted in March and arrested on March 7. He later signed a plea agreement and was sentenced to 8 years of incarceration for his role in the death of Jerome E. Fitzgerald. The shooting reportedly occurred in the apartment of Howard's girlfriend, and Fitzgerald was described as a stranger to him.
