On an autumn day in Portsmouth, Virginia, the life of 46-year-old Maurice Darden was cut short in a sudden and violent manner. On October 10, 2018, first responders were called to the scene of a minor traffic accident on Frederick Boulevard, near the Interstate 264 interchange. A blue Hyundai Sonata had rear-ended a Dodge Caravan that was stopped at a traffic light.
Inside the Hyundai, they discovered Maurice Darden, a Black/African American male, unresponsive and bleeding profusely from his left leg.
Upon being extracted from the vehicle, the full gravity of the situation became apparent as it was discovered that Darden had sustained a gunshot wound to his leg. He was rushed to Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center for emergency treatment, but tragically, he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival. The investigation into what initially appeared to be a simple car accident quickly transformed into a homicide investigation.
Detectives with the Portsmouth Police Department began to piece together the events that led to Darden's death. An examination of his vehicle revealed a bullet hole on the inside panel of the driver's side door, although the bullet had not exited the exterior of the car. This key piece of evidence, along with the discovery of bodily fluids and fingerprints within the vehicle, pointed towards foul play. Despite the ongoing investigation and appeals to the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough in the case, no arrests have been made. The identity of any suspect or suspects, as well as a motive for the shooting, remains unknown. The case remains an open and unsolved homicide.
