In the summer of 2019, the life of 15-year-old Erek Lamarr Wright Jr. was tragically cut short in Newport News, Virginia. On the night of August 1, 2019, Erek, a student-athlete at Heritage High School with interests in cybersecurity, was found with fatal gunshot wounds at the Heritage Forest Apartment Complex. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Alongside him, another young man, 18-year-old Tyree Spady, was also found with gunshot wounds and succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. The incident marked the first double homicide of the year in Newport News, sending shockwaves through the community.
Erek, known to friends and family as 'Lil Man' or 'Big E,' was a multi-sport athlete with a passion for football, baseball, and basketball. He had been involved in organized sports since the age of seven. His family remembered him as a competitive yet helpful young man who enjoyed gaming with his friends. The sudden and violent nature of his death left his family, including his mother, Avanti Johnson, heartbroken and searching for answers and justice.
The investigation into the double homicide led Newport News police to two juvenile suspects. Nearly a month after the killings, two teenagers were arrested and faced a litany of charges, including second-degree murder, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Due to their ages, the identities of the suspects were not initially released to the public.
Further details emerged as the case proceeded through the legal system. One of the accused was identified as Amareon Eley, who was 15 at the time of the incident. During questioning about an unrelated robbery, Eley admitted to being present during the shooting. He implicated another teenager, Anthony Santiago, as the shooter. Eley alleged that the original plan was to rob Wright and Spady of a firearm, a confrontation that ultimately turned deadly. Despite his claim that he did not pull the trigger, Eley was charged in connection with the murders. His legal journey was marked by complexities, including a mistrial due to a juror issue, before a new trial commenced.
