On March 9, 2019, a dispute in a Newport News, Virginia rooming house ended in the shooting death of 30-year-old Quintez Montrel Moore. A Black/African American male, Moore was a resident of the home on 55th Street where the altercation and subsequent shooting occurred. The incident, which took place at approximately 2:00 p.m., involved a 61-year-old female resident of the same house.
According to initial police reports, an altercation between Moore and the woman escalated, leading to
the woman shooting Moore. When Newport News police arrived at the scene, they found Moore deceased inside the residence. The woman was detained for questioning, but she was later released without any immediate charges being filed against her.
The preliminary investigation by the Newport News Police Department suggested that the woman may have acted in self-defense. However, authorities stated that a final determination in the case would be made by the Commonwealth's Attorney's office. This decision was pending a thorough review of the autopsy results and the conclusion of all interviews related to the incident. The case highlighted the complexities of self-defense claims, leaving the community and Moore's family seeking final answers and a sense of closure that remained dependent on the outcome of the legal review.
