In the early hours of April 5, 2015, a house party on Gallery Avenue in Virginia Beach turned tragic, ending the life of 20-year-old Crystal Stevenson. An argument that began inside the residence spilled out into the street, where Stevenson was shot. Police responded to the scene around 2:15 a.m. and found her in the road in front of the home.
The investigation into the young woman's death quickly focused on identifying a person of interest.
Authorities released a surveillance camera image to the public, which led to a significant break in the case. Following the release of the image, 22-year-old Michael Frederick Hines of Suffolk turned himself in to the police. A witness reported that Hines had been wearing a shirt with the phrase 'hustle gang' on it, which helped detectives locate surveillance footage of him at a 7-Eleven on the night of the shooting. Hines' own father recognized him from the media coverage and brought him to the police station.
Initially, another man, 26-year-old Garlan Dixon, was arrested on unrelated charges after he was seen leaving the scene of the shooting. An officer attempted to stop the white Audi he was driving, but Dixon fled before being apprehended nearby. Although what appeared to be blood was found in his car, and a witness confirmed he was at the party, Dixon was not charged in connection with Stevenson's death.
Michael Frederick Hines was ultimately charged with the murder of Crystal Stevenson. After initially denying his involvement, he confessed to the shooting after speaking with his father at the police station. In August 2016, a jury convicted Hines of voluntary manslaughter and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. In February 2017, he was sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison: eight years for voluntary manslaughter and five years for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Hines had prior convictions for robbery and use of a firearm and was also serving a seven-year sentence for a probation violation in Chesapeake.
