In the early morning hours of January 2, 2020, the life of 30-year-old Eric Silver, a male resident of Portsmouth, Virginia, was tragically cut short. At approximately 1 a.m., police responded to reports of gunfire on Lake Forest Court. Upon arrival, they discovered Silver inside his vehicle, which was riddled with multiple bullet holes. He had sustained a gunshot wound to his upper body.
Emergency medical personnel rushed him to a local hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he succumbed to them shortly after arrival. The Portsmouth Police Department quickly classified the shooting as a homicide and launched an investigation into the violent incident that had shattered the quiet of the residential neighborhood.
In the weeks that followed, the investigation into Eric Silver's death progressed as police worked to identify those responsible. Initially, authorities had not released any information about potential suspects. As the investigation continued, the Portsmouth Police Department sought the public's help in locating two individuals they named as persons of interest in the case. The first was 32-year-old Robert Howard, and the second was 28-year-old Kwame Smith.
A significant development in the case came with the arrest of Dione R. Benson. Benson was taken into custody and subsequently charged with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in connection with Eric Silver's death. The case against Benson proceeded to trial. However, in a turn of events on February 16, 2022, Dione R. Benson was acquitted of all charges. The acquittal left the community and Silver's family with unanswered questions and a continued search for justice. Following the verdict, the Portsmouth Police Department reiterated their appeal to the public for any information that could lead to a resolution in the case.
