On New Year's Eve 2017 in Norfolk, Virginia, 19-year-old Trajon Rivera, a recent graduate of Granby High School with dreams of becoming a cook and opening a food truck, was fatally shot. The incident occurred in the early morning hours inside a garage in the 3700 block of Tait Terrace, where Rivera was gathered with his brother and some friends. When police and paramedics arrived at the scene, they discovered Rivera suffering from a significant gunshot wound and he was pronounced dead at the
scene.
A suspect, 21-year-old Keyshawn Johnson of the 8700 block of Albemarle Drive in Norfolk, was taken into custody at the location of the shooting. Johnson was subsequently charged with voluntary manslaughter in connection with Rivera's death and was held in the Norfolk City Jail without bond. In the immediate aftermath, detectives did not release a motive for the shooting or elaborate on the relationship between Johnson and Rivera.
While the police investigated the shooting as a homicide, an uncle of Trajon Rivera indicated that the family had been told the firearm discharged accidentally. Despite this claim, the official investigation proceeded with the charge of voluntary manslaughter against Johnson. The circumstances leading up to the fatal event have not been publicly detailed by law enforcement. Information regarding the progression and final outcome of the legal case against Keyshawn Johnson, including details of any trial or conviction, has not been made available in public records.
