In the early morning hours of December 6, 2015, a dispute inside a Virginia nightclub tragically cut short the life of 22-year-old George Cain III. The male victim was at the Smoove Operators nightclub on North Main Street in Emporia when an argument broke out with another man, Christopher Rayshawn Powell, around 1:50 a.m. The verbal altercation quickly escalated to violence when Powell produced a firearm and shot Cain in the torso.
Emergency services rushed George Cain III to Southern Virginia Regional Hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement identified 26-year-old Christopher Rayshawn Powell as the suspect. As an Emporia Police Officer, William King, attempted to take Powell into custody, Powell allegedly shot the officer in the leg. Despite his injury, law enforcement was able to apprehend Powell. Officer King was transported to a local hospital and later airlifted to VCU Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition.
Following the incident, Christopher Rayshawn Powell was arrested and charged with the murder of George Cain III. He was held without bond. The investigation into the shooting of the police officer led to charges against two other men. Rakei D. Stokes was charged with several offenses, including attempted capital murder and conspiracy to commit capital murder. Calvin L. Evans was charged with conspiracy to commit capital murder in connection with the officer's shooting.
