On a spring evening in Suffolk, Virginia, the life of 22-year-old Deshawn Maurice Bazemore, Jr. was tragically cut short. On May 15, 2022, Bazemore was visiting and socializing with friends at the Autumn Ridge Apartments on Nancy Drive. The atmosphere of a quiet community was shattered at approximately 8:21 p.m. when gunfire erupted.
According to the Suffolk Police Department, a gold-colored, older model Honda Accord had entered the apartment complex shortly before the shooting began.
Occupants of the vehicle reportedly started firing towards a group of individuals on the sidewalk. In the ensuing chaos, others in the vicinity returned fire. Bazemore, who was not the intended target, was caught in the crossfire. He attempted to flee the chaotic scene but collapsed after being struck by a gunshot. When police officers arrived at 114 Nancy Drive in response to the reports of shots fired, they found Bazemore lying face down. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
In the aftermath of the shooting, detectives from the Suffolk Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division launched a homicide investigation. Investigators spent countless hours interviewing potential witnesses and collecting evidence from the crime scene. In a public appeal for information released in October 2022, the police stated that while many people had come forward, key witnesses had yet to provide a full account of the events that transpired. They urged anyone with knowledge of the incident, no matter how insignificant it might seem, to contact them to help bring closure to Bazemore's family, including his young daughter.
As of the latest available information, the investigation into the death of Deshawn Maurice Bazemore, Jr. remains ongoing. Authorities have not publicly identified any suspects or announced any arrests in connection with the shooting. The Suffolk Police Department continues to seek assistance from the community to identify those responsible for the senseless act of violence that claimed the life of the young father.
