On a Monday night in Roanoke, Virginia, the life of 36-year-old Nathaniel Joseph-Leon Briggs, a Black male, was tragically cut short. On November 23, 2020, police responded to a call about a gunshot wound at a residence in the 2400 block of Centre Avenue NW around 10:15 p.m. Inside, they found Briggs suffering from severe injuries. Despite the immediate medical aid rendered by the officers and the subsequent efforts of Roanoke Fire-EMS, Briggs succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead
at the scene.
The investigation into the shooting quickly progressed as all individuals involved remained at the scene and were known to one another. Detectives from the Roanoke Police Department identified Herbert Giddens Jr., a 24-year-old from Roanoke, as the suspect in the fatal shooting. The case was presented to a Roanoke Grand Jury in February 2021, which resulted in indictments against Giddens.
On February 2, 2021, Herbert Giddens Jr. was arrested without incident. He was subsequently charged with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in connection with the death of Nathaniel Briggs. Authorities assured the public that there was no ongoing threat, as the incident was not a random act of violence. The investigation continued in coordination with the Commonwealth Attorney's Office to determine if any further charges would be filed.
