On a cold February evening in Richmond, Virginia, the life of 30-year-old Veka Shawn Chham, a male resident of Fresno, California, was tragically cut short. On February 9, 2016, police were called to a residence in the 5700 block of Thorndale Lane around 10 p.m. following reports of gunfire. Upon their arrival, they discovered a grim scene. Chham was found in an upstairs room, suffering from gunshot wounds.
He was rushed to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Downstairs on the first floor, another man, Akeen J. Williams, was found deceased. Initially, the circumstances surrounding both deaths were unclear. However, after a thorough investigation and consultation with the Commonwealth's Attorney's office, Williams' death was ruled a justifiable homicide.
The investigation into Chham's death led Richmond police to 34-year-old Japell L. Christian of Henrico. Christian was subsequently charged with the murder of Veka Shawn Chham. The charges against him were extensive and included murder, attempted robbery, abduction, three counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. At the time the charges were brought forth, Christian was already in custody on an unrelated matter since February 17, 2016. Investigators believed the incident may have been drug-related and continued to seek information from the public as they built their case against the suspect.
