In the early morning hours of June 11, 2021, the life of 22-year-old Thomas E. Alexander, III, was tragically cut short in Norfolk, Virginia. Officers responded to a call of a gunshot victim in the 500 block of Mariners Way at approximately 4:00 a.m. Upon arrival, they discovered Alexander suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The investigation into the shooting continued for several months as detectives sought to piece together the events that led to
the young man's death. Authorities urged anyone with information to come forward and contact the Norfolk Crime Line. The motive and the specific circumstances surrounding the incident were not immediately released to the public.
In August of 2021, a breakthrough in the case was announced by the Norfolk Police Department. As a result of their investigation, detectives arrested 19-year-old Jacques K. Ruffin of Norfolk. Ruffin was charged with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in connection with Alexander's death. While an arrest was made, officials did not release further details about the motive or the relationship between the two individuals.
