In the fall of 2016, a shooting incident in Danville, Virginia, claimed the life of a local man. On the evening of October 5, police responded to a call about a gunshot victim in the 300 block of Chatelaine Avenue. Upon arrival, they found 41-year-old Jonathan McDonald Hamlett in the street near the intersection with Albert Street, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Hamlett, a Black male, was transported to Danville Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Jonathan Hamlett succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased shortly before midnight. His body was then sent to the Medical Examiner's Office in Roanoke for an autopsy. The Danville Police Department's investigation into the homicide was described as active and ongoing in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
For several years, the case remained under investigation as detectives continued to follow leads. A significant development came in August 2020, when the Danville Police, in collaboration with the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, made an arrest in connection with Hamlett's death. A 17-year-old resident of Danville was taken into custody without incident at a house in the city.
The teenager was charged with first-degree murder and related firearms offenses for the shooting death of Jonathan Hamlett. Following the arrest, the juvenile was held at the W.W. Moore, Jr. Juvenile Detention Home to await trial. The diligent work of detectives over the years was credited with bringing about the charges in the case.
