In the early morning hours of September 18, 2015, the life of 32-year-old Dante Austin was tragically cut short on a street in Portsmouth, Virginia. Known to some as '2Gunz,' Austin was in a car on Buchanan Avenue when gunfire erupted shortly before 2:30 a.m. a neighbor reported hearing a loud boom followed by gunshots a couple of minutes later. When police arrived at the scene at the corner of Buchanan Avenue and South Street, they discovered Austin and another man inside a vehicle, both
suffering from gunshot wounds.
Both men were wounded, but Austin’s injuries proved to be fatal. He was pronounced dead, leaving his family and community to grapple with the sudden and violent loss. The other man in the car was injured, but survived the shooting. The news was especially devastating for Austin's family, as he had been released from prison only a month and a half prior after serving a 15-year sentence. His family was just beginning to reconnect with him when his life was taken.
In the wake of the shooting, the Portsmouth Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide. However, the case proved to be challenging from the outset. Investigators were unable to immediately identify a suspect or a clear motive for the shooting. Despite appeals to the public for information, no arrests have been made in connection with Dante Austin's murder.
As time passed with no significant breakthroughs, Dante Austin's case eventually became a cold case. His unsolved murder is a painful reminder of a life lost to gun violence and a family still waiting for answers and for justice to be served. The investigation remains open, with law enforcement still hopeful that someone will come forward with the information needed to solve the case and bring closure to his loved ones.
