In the early morning hours of October 1, 2016, the life of 22-year-old Corby DeQuan Powell was tragically cut short in Petersburg, Virginia. Powell, a Black male known affectionately as 'Tutu,' was found suffering from a gunshot wound in the 400 block of Nottoway Street and was pronounced dead at the scene. His death marked the fifth homicide in the city that year.
Corby, a resident of South Chesterfield who had attended school in Petersburg and Matoaca, was described by his mother, Takesha Jones, as a 'happy-go-lucky' individual who enjoyed joking and was not involved in criminal activities. She believes her son was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. At the time of his death, he was a father to a young son, Corby D. Powell, Jr. He was last employed at Walmart.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the Petersburg Police Department indicated that they had strong leads and were receiving significant community support in their investigation. However, despite these initial promising developments, the case has since gone cold. No arrests have been made, and no specific suspects have been publicly identified.
Takesha Jones has been a vocal advocate for justice for her son, expressing her belief that multiple individuals were involved in his murder. The profound grief of losing her son has spurred her to open a clothing store and a cleaning service in his memory. The Petersburg Police Department continues to encourage anyone with information regarding the murder of Corby Powell to come forward as his family continues to hope for closure and justice.
