In the early hours of a Tuesday morning in Portsmouth, Virginia, the life of 27-year-old Vandalet S. Mercer was tragically cut short. On December 15, 2015, in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, residents were startled by the sound of gunshots near Deep Creek Boulevard and Graham Street. When they looked outside, they discovered Mercer lying in the street. Police arrived to find she had sustained gunshot wounds to her torso and was pronounced dead at the scene. Another man was also found at the scene with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his hand. Mercer, a mother and a graduate of Hickory High School with aspirations of working in law enforcement, was remembered by loved ones as a humble, good-hearted, and friendly person who enjoyed life, laughter, and spending time with her family and friends.
The investigation into the double shooting initially yielded no suspects, leaving the community unsettled. However, the case was eventually solved as part of a larger investigation into a string of violent crimes in the South Hampton Roads area. Authorities identified Anthony Foye, a member of the Nine Trey Gangsters, as the person responsible for Mercer's death. It was revealed that Foye, along with another gang member, was attempting to build a reputation as a 'shooter' within the gang.
In furtherance of his gang membership, Anthony Foye went on a violent spree in 2015, which included the murders of Vandalet Mercer, Al-Tariq Tynes, Linda Lassiter, and Wayne Davis, as well as several other non-fatal shootings. Investigators determined that almost none of the victims, including Mercer, had any affiliation with any street gang. On September 8, 2017, Foye pleaded guilty to four counts of murder in aid of racketeering activity. Subsequently, in May 2018, he was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the four murders and numerous other shootings.
