On a cold December night in Hampton, Virginia, the life of 37-year-old Dorsey L. Stephenson was tragically cut short. Just before 11:30 p.m. on December 30, 2018, police responded to calls of a shooting on Ridgeway Avenue. Upon their arrival, they discovered Stephenson and another man in the road, both suffering from gunshot wounds. While the second victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Stephenson was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the days
following the shooting, a picture of Dorsey Stephenson emerged as a beloved family man and a dedicated worker. His family described him as a joyful and loving person, and his cousin recalled hearing from others that Stephenson may have been attempting to break up a fight when he was shot. This sentiment of a man trying to do the right thing was echoed by his loved ones. He was remembered by his foreman as a skilled and hardworking construction employee who had contributed to numerous projects throughout the Hampton Roads area. Friends and family were left grappling with the senseless loss of a man they say was not involved in any gang activity.
The investigation into Stephenson's death began immediately, but answers have remained elusive. Witnesses at a nearby party reported seeing a light blue Acura and a light grey Toyota speeding away from the area shortly after the gunshots rang out. However, in the years that have passed since that fatal night, no suspects have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Dorsey Stephenson.
The Hampton Police Division continues to seek information from the public, and the case is now listed on the Virginia Cold Case Database. For the family and friends of Dorsey Stephenson, the pain of their loss is compounded by the absence of justice for the man they remember as a cherished member of their community. His family continues to hope that someone will come forward with the information needed to solve his case.
