On a Sunday morning in Hopewell, Virginia, the life of Willie J. Studivant Jr. was tragically cut short. On April 3, 2022, the 26-year-old male was at a Wawa on Colonial Corner Drive when a verbal argument escalated into a fatal shooting. Officers arrived to find Studivant on the ground near a fuel pump with several gunshot wounds. He was transported to John Randolph Medical Center, where he later died.
Willie, a 2014 graduate of Dinwiddie High School, was known for his infectious smile and caring heart. At the time of his death, he was employed at a Wal-Mart Distribution Center. He was a loving son, brother, and friend, and an avid fan of the Steelers football team.
Witnesses at the scene described the shooter as a Black male in his mid to late 20s, with short-dreaded hairstyle and some facial hair. Following an extensive investigation, the Hopewell Police Department identified Demonte Jones, a 25-year-old Black male, as the suspected offender. Authorities issued warrants for Jones's arrest on charges of second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, reckless handling of a firearm, and discharge of a firearm in public. Law enforcement officials considered Jones to be armed and extremely dangerous and sought the public's assistance in locating him.
