On the winter night of January 23, 2016, in Hampton, Virginia, the life of 42-year-old Leroy Doran Garner, a Black male, was tragically cut short. At approximately 9:39 p.m., the sound of gunshots echoed through the 500 block of Darnaby Avenue, prompting calls to the Hampton Police Division. Arriving at the scene, officers discovered a vehicle that had collided with a utility pole. Inside, they found Garner in the driver's seat, slumped over the console.
He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene by Hampton Division of Fire and Rescue.
The initial investigation into what was quickly classified as a homicide revealed a potential trail of evidence. Investigators were able to follow footprints left in the snow from the crime scene to a nearby home on Hannah Street. Despite this early lead, the motive and specific circumstances surrounding the shooting remained unclear. The Hampton Police Division began an active investigation, seeking assistance from the public to identify any suspects involved in Garner's death.
In the years that have passed, the case of Leroy Doran Garner's murder has remained unsolved, and no arrests have been announced. The Hampton Police Division continues to appeal to the community for any information that might lead to a breakthrough in the investigation. Garner, known to friends as 'Roy,' was remembered by his family and community during a memorial service held on February 5, 2016, at Liberty Baptist Church in Hampton. His death left a void in the lives of those who knew him, while the quest for justice for his untimely passing continues.
