In the early morning hours of June 18, 2020, the life of 48-year-old Johnny Crawford was tragically cut short in Portsmouth, Virginia. The incident unfolded around 1:55 a.m. in the 40 block of Gilmerton Avenue. Responding to a call, police officers arrived to find Crawford suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso. Despite the efforts of emergency personnel, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A neighbor recounted being awakened by the sound of a woman screaming and crying in the
street, only to discover that someone he knew had been hurt. He described Crawford as a nice young man who never bothered anyone in the neighborhood, expressing his shock and disbelief at the violence that had occurred just outside his door. The neighbor mentioned that he had just spoken with Crawford the day before, making the news of his death even more difficult to comprehend.
The investigation into Crawford's death quickly led police to identify a suspect. Later that same day, 28-year-old Melvin Muniz of Portsmouth turned himself in to the authorities. Muniz was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The case marked the city's 15th homicide of 2020. While an arrest was made, the investigation by the Portsmouth Police Department's Major Crimes Unit was said to be ongoing.
