On a late Monday evening in Hampton, Virginia, the life of 58-year-old Darrell Wayne Higginbotham was tragically cut short. On October 16, 2017, the male employee of the Happy Shopper convenience store was closing up for the night with the store's owner when they were confronted by one or more individuals in the parking lot. An argument broke out, and the encounter quickly turned violent.
Gunshots shattered the night, and Higginbotham was struck multiple times.
He was discovered unresponsive in the parking lot of the business located in the 1200 block of North King Street and was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders. The owner of the convenience store was also shot during the altercation. Despite his injuries, he managed to get into a vehicle and drive to a nearby 7-Eleven to seek help for himself and Higginbotham. He was then hospitalized with what were described as life-threatening injuries.
In the wake of the deadly shooting, the Hampton Police Division launched a homicide investigation and appealed to the public for any information that could lead to the identification of the suspect or suspects. However, in the immediate aftermath, authorities did not release any descriptions of potential suspects. The motive for the shooting was not immediately clear, though it was preceded by a verbal dispute.
Despite the ongoing investigation, there have been no publicly reported arrests in connection with the murder of Darrell Wayne Higginbotham. The case remains an open and active investigation, with law enforcement continuing to seek information that could bring resolution to this violent crime.
