In the late hours of July 5, 2017, the life of Eric Wardell Hunter, a 46-year-old Black male, was cut short in a burst of gunfire. The former Hampton High School and Purdue University quarterback was discovered in the parking lot of a combined KFC and Taco Bell restaurant on East Pembroke Avenue in Hampton, Virginia. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and, despite the efforts of first responders, succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was closed, and no one else was reported injured.
Hunter was a celebrated local athlete who had led his high school football team to a state championship. His promising career at Purdue was marked by significant talent, but his life after football presented personal challenges. Family members have spoken about his struggles with mental health following his football career. Despite these difficulties, he was remembered by loved ones as a caring individual.
The Hampton Police Division launched a homicide investigation into Hunter's death. Investigators processed the scene, collecting evidence and seeking information from the public to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting. The motive for the shooting has never been publicly determined.
Despite the passage of time, the case of Eric Wardell Hunter's murder remains unsolved. To date, no suspects have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made in connection with his death. The investigation is considered ongoing, and authorities have continued to appeal to the community for any information that might lead to a breakthrough in the case, leaving a family and community still waiting for justice.
