In the early morning hours of September 24, 2022, the life of 22-year-old Ashanti Syncere Allah Britt was cut short in Portsmouth, Virginia. A Black male, Britt was discovered by police officers who were responding to a report of a shooting in the 200 block of Dale Drive at approximately 4:13 a.m. He was suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound.
Despite being rushed to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment, Britt succumbed to his injuries shortly after his arrival.
The Portsmouth Police Department's investigation into the fatal shooting led them to identify 26-year-old Herschel Allen Bernard Watkins Jr. as a suspect. Watkins was subsequently charged with second-degree murder, malicious shooting, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and concealing or compounding evidence. Authorities actively sought information from the public regarding his whereabouts following the incident.
Two other individuals were also implicated in connection with Britt's death. Nineteen-year-old Elijah Drew was arrested and charged with concealing or compounding evidence. According to court records, it is believed that Britt and two other men were exchanging gunfire when Britt was shot, and Drew is alleged to have assisted the suspected shooter in disposing of the firearm.
A 16-year-old male, whose identity was not publicly disclosed due to his age, was also taken into custody. He faced multiple charges, including second-degree murder malicious shooting, concealing or compounding evidence, being an accessory after the fact, and possession of a firearm by a minor.
