In a tragic turn of events on June 10, 2017, Rayvone Sharome Miles, a 23-year-old Black male, was killed in a violent encounter in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The incident, which also claimed the life of 28-year-old John Andrew Rathjen, unfolded inside a residence on Archives Court. Both men were discovered on June 11, 2017, having been shot twice in what was later determined to be a robbery that escalated to a double homicide.
The investigation into the deaths of Miles and Rathjen led
authorities to identify two suspects: 20-year-old James Cole Gregory and 29-year-old Leonard Allen Morrison III. It was revealed that Gregory and Morrison had entered the home with the intention of robbing the occupants. During the commission of the robbery, both Rathjen and Miles were shot and killed. The perpetrators then fled the scene with the victims' wallets, phones, and various electronic devices.
The apprehension of Gregory and Morrison came after their involvement in a separate crime in the nearby city of Hampton, which resulted in a police-involved shooting. Following their arrests, both men were charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of robbery, and four counts of the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony for the Virginia Beach incident.
In the ensuing legal proceedings, James Cole Gregory chose to plead guilty to the charges brought against him. Leonard Allen Morrison III, however, proceeded to a jury trial and was subsequently found guilty. In August of 2018, both men were sentenced for their roles in the murders. Gregory and Morrison each received two life terms. In addition to the life sentences, Gregory was given an additional 30 years in prison, while Morrison received an additional 28 years.
