In the quiet Red Mill neighborhood of Virginia Beach, Virginia, the life of 17-year-old Christopher Patrick Ross, a male student and football player at Ocean Lakes High School, was cut short on December 11, 2018. What began as a transaction for marijuana inside a home on Elson Green Avenue ended in a fatal shooting that would later be detailed in court documents.
Christopher had arranged to buy a significant amount of marijuana from Jacob Alexander Meadows, who was 19 at the time, and
another underage dealer. During the deal inside a bedroom, Christopher grabbed the bag of marijuana and attempted to flee the house. He ran down the stairs but found the front door locked, hindering his escape. As he struggled with the door, Meadows, who had given chase, opened fire, striking the teenager multiple times. When police arrived, they found Christopher's body near a large quantity of marijuana.
The investigation quickly led to the identification of Meadows as the primary suspect, and he was arrested the day after the shooting at a camper where he was living in the Pungo area of Virginia Beach. Initially, Meadows denied his involvement but later admitted to the drug deal and the shooting, though he claimed it was in self-defense. His lawyer argued in court that Christopher had a gun and that the shooting was a response to a threat. Prosecutors, however, contended that Meadows pursued Christopher and shot him as he was trying to leave. They also stated that the front door was locked, making Christopher less of a threat as he tried to get away. After the shooting, Meadows fled the scene and attempted to dispose of the murder weapon by throwing it off the Pungo Ferry Bridge; the gun was never recovered.
In addition to Meadows, three juveniles were also arrested in connection with the incident. Two of the unnamed youths faced charges of robbery and conspiracy, while the third was charged with the distribution of marijuana. The other dealer involved in the initial transaction, who was a juvenile at the time, later pleaded guilty to robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and conspiracy. Jacob Alexander Meadows was initially charged with second-degree murder, along with gun and drug-related offenses. He eventually pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and several drug charges. In October 2022, Meadows was sentenced to seven years in prison, with an additional nine years suspended. As part of his sentence, he is also required to undergo five years of supervised probation and substance abuse treatment, and he is prohibited from having any contact with Christopher Ross's family.
