In the early hours of November 17, 2021, the life of Shawn D. Slade, a 25-year-old Black / African American male from Hampton, Virginia, was tragically cut short. Just after midnight, Hampton Police Communications received calls about gunshots fired in the vicinity of the 100-block of Kathann Drive. Upon their arrival, officers discovered Slade in the parking lot of the Abbington at Northampton apartment complex, lying unconscious next to his vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds. Despite the immediate response from emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The preliminary investigation revealed that Slade was in the parking lot when he was fatally shot. It was noted that while Slade had previously lived at the apartment complex, he was not a current resident at the time of the incident. His death left his family, including his mother for whom he was an only child, and a wide circle of friends in deep mourning. Friends and family remembered him as a kind and generous person, who was a cherished member of his church community and was well-known within the XBOX gaming community. They have emphasized that he was not involved in criminal activities and did not seem to be a likely target for such a violent act.
The Hampton Police Division is treating the case as an active homicide investigation. The motive and circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation, and authorities have not released any information about a potential suspect or suspects. No arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Shawn D. Slade. Law enforcement has urged the public to come forward with any information that might assist in their investigation and have encouraged tipsters to contact the Hampton Police Division or the Crime Line. A cash reward has been offered for information that leads to an arrest. The case remains unsolved, and the shooter or shooters are still at large.
