In the early hours of March 29, 2017, the sound of gunfire shattered the pre-dawn quiet in the 1200 block of Lead Street in Norfolk, Virginia. When first responders arrived at approximately 12:30 a.m., they discovered the body of 19-year-old Tiqan Benthell lying in the roadway. The young man, a resident of the 2900 block of Bayne Avenue, had sustained an apparent gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Norfolk police detectives quickly launched a homicide investigation into
the death of the male teenager. Despite their efforts and appeals to the public for information, the case was met with significant challenges. Investigators found that potential witnesses were reluctant to come forward, and a lack of physical evidence further complicated the inquiry. In the days following the shooting, no description of a suspect or suspects was released, and no immediate arrests were made.
Years have passed since Tiqan Benthell's life was cut short, and his case has grown cold. The investigation remains open but unsolved, with no publicly identified suspects or arrests in connection with his murder. Law enforcement has periodically reiterated their request for anyone with information to contact the Norfolk Crime Line, hoping that a new lead might emerge and finally bring a measure of justice to Benthell's family. His death remains a somber reminder of the gun violence that has affected the Norfolk community.
