In the early morning hours of June 20, 2018, a passing motorist discovered the body of 47-year-old Umar Abdus Salaam on the side of Boydton Plank Road in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. Salaam, a resident of nearby Petersburg, had been shot and was found near a Shell gas station and Burger King. Emergency services transported him to Southside Regional Medical Center, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Salaam was the co-owner of a local car wash, Zoe's Bubbles and Sudz Detailing,
located near where his body was found. His business partner remembered him as a welcoming individual who was always willing to help others. The news of his violent death sent shockwaves through the community, leaving friends and family to grapple with the senseless loss.
The investigation into Salaam's death quickly led to the apprehension of three suspects. Thornell Sledge, 24, of Petersburg; Caleb Q. Smith, 25, of Newport News; and Jhanae Short, 18, of Petersburg, were arrested in connection with the crime. A grand jury subsequently indicted all three on charges of first-degree murder, robbery, conspiracy, and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Following their arrest, they were held without bail at the Meherrin River Regional Jail. The Dinwiddie Commonwealth's Attorney at the time expressed a commitment to restoring a sense of safety to the community and bringing justice for Salaam's family.
