In the early morning hours of March 4, 2020, the quiet of a Hampton, Virginia neighborhood was broken by the sound of gunshots. It wasn't until around 6:22 a.m. that the tragic outcome of that violence was discovered. Police were called to the 200 block of Manchester Drive for a death investigation, where they found the body of 23-year-old Edward Renardo Brown Jr. Medics arrived at the scene and pronounced the young Black man deceased at 6:33 a.m.
from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Although Brown was found in the morning, investigators believe the fatal shooting actually occurred hours earlier, around 2:30 a.m., when a complaint about shots fired in the area was received. A resident in the area later reported hearing three gunshots during the night, though it was not immediately clear if they were connected to Brown's death. Brown, who was a resident of nearby Newport News, was found lying in the street.
The Hampton Police Division quickly classified the death as a homicide and began an active investigation. They appealed to the public for any information that could lead them to the person or persons responsible for Brown's murder and shed light on the motive behind the shooting. Authorities encouraged anyone with information to contact the Hampton Police Division or the Crime Line, offering the possibility of a cash reward for tips that lead to an arrest. As of the latest available information, the case remains an active investigation, and no arrests or suspects have been publicly identified in connection with the shooting death of Edward Renardo Brown Jr.
