In a tragic turn of events on May 8, 2017, a 29-year-old woman, Erica Alford, was shot and killed in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The incident unfolded in the 5800 block of Newtown Arch, where officers responded to reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Ms. Alford deceased at the scene and an injured man who was subsequently transported to a local hospital.
The investigation into the death of Erica Alford quickly led to the identification of a suspect.
The injured man found at the scene, 24-year-old Richard Jerome Gregory, Jr., was charged in connection with her death. The charges brought against him included second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. It was revealed that the tragic encounter was the result of a drug transaction that had gone awry.
The narrative that emerged during the legal proceedings detailed a planned meeting between Alford and Gregory for a drug deal. Alford, accompanied by a friend, drove to the Mayfair Apartments at Gregory's direction. After a brief absence from the vehicle, Gregory returned and questioned Alford about the money. When she indicated she did not have it, he opened fire. In the exchange, Alford was fatally wounded, but not before she managed to return fire, injuring Gregory in the hand and leg. Surveillance footage captured Gregory limping away from the scene.
In July 2018, a jury found Richard Jerome Gregory, Jr. guilty of second-degree murder and use of a firearm. Following the conviction, the jury recommended a sentence of 21 years in prison. In May 2019, a circuit court judge imposed this sentence, bringing a legal conclusion to the case. Gregory, who was 26 at the time of sentencing, was ordered to serve 21 years for his role in the death of Erica Alford.
