Cody Austin Woodson, a 20-year-old male, was a junior at Virginia Commonwealth University with a promising future ahead of him. He was studying computer science and had already secured an internship. Known for his charismatic smile and passion for learning, he was the president of The Linux Users Group at his university.
On the evening of April 5, 2021, in the Carver neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia, Cody's life was tragically cut short.
After spending the day with his girlfriend, he was taking out the trash and heading to a nearby corner store from his residence on Gilmer Street when he was shot and killed. The incident occurred in the same location where another fatal shooting had taken place less than 24 hours earlier, prompting police to investigate a possible connection between the two deaths. His girlfriend was with him just minutes before he was shot.
In the wake of the shooting, the Richmond Police Department launched an investigation, but the case has been hampered by a lack of witnesses and significant leads. As of late 2022, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. In an effort to generate new information, a billboard was erected on West Marshall Street near the site of the murder, asking for any information regarding who was responsible for Cody's death. His family and friends remember him as a kind and genuine person, and his mother has been a vocal advocate for justice for her son, believing he was a good person who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The investigation into his murder remains ongoing.
