In the late hours of a Wednesday evening in Norfolk, Virginia, a dispute at the Downtown Norfolk Transit Station would tragically cut short the life of 31-year-old Quontrell D. Snowden. On May 29, 2019, what began as a verbal argument between Snowden and another man, Ferrari Aramis Ferdinand, quickly escalated into a physical altercation near the bus station on St.
Paul's Boulevard.
Video surveillance from the scene captured the brief fight, showing Snowden attempting to de-escalate the situation by backing away from Ferdinand with his hands raised. Despite Snowden's retreat, Ferdinand, then 28, pulled out a firearm and advanced on him. He fired seven shots, continuing to shoot even after Snowden had fallen to the ground. Norfolk Police officers who were in the vicinity heard the gunshots and responded swiftly, apprehending Ferdinand at the scene. Snowden, who was unarmed, was rushed to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries and died.
The investigation led to Ferrari A. Ferdinand being charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He was held in the Norfolk City Jail without bond. In November 2021, a jury found Ferdinand guilty of the charges. Although Ferdinand claimed he only fired twice and believed Snowden was armed, the evidence presented a different story.
On April 1, 2022, Ferrari Aramis Ferdinand, then 30, was sentenced for the murder of Quontrell Snowden. A judge sentenced him to a total of 20 years in prison for the second-degree murder charge, with a portion of the sentence suspended. Coupled with a mandatory three-year sentence for the firearm charge, Ferdinand received an active prison sentence of 17 years. The Commonwealth's Attorney remarked that Snowden had died 'tragically and senselessly at Mr. Ferdinand's hands, and for nothing.'
