On the night of January 16, 2015, the life of 20-year-old Jamar Thomas, a Black male from Hampton, Virginia, was tragically cut short. In the parking lot of Kelly's Tavern on Coliseum Drive, gunshots shattered the evening calm. When police arrived, they discovered that Thomas and a juvenile had been shot. Both were rushed to Sentara Careplex Hospital, where Thomas was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The juvenile victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Jamar, known to friends and family as 'Mal,' was a recent father to a baby boy named Jamir, who was the love of his life. Born on December 9, 1994, in Newport News, he was educated in both the Newport News and Hampton school systems and later earned his GED. In his youth, he was a passionate athlete, playing football for the Doris Miller recreational league and basketball for the AAU and Hampton High School junior varsity teams. He was the son of Likia Sweetenburg and James E. Thomas, Jr.
In the wake of the shooting, Hampton Police launched an investigation into the deadly double shooting. A witness reported hearing three initial shots, a pause, and then several more. Investigators began searching for suspects and a motive behind the violence that took a young father's life. Despite their efforts, no immediate arrests were made in connection with the homicide.
Years have passed since Jamar Thomas was killed, and his case remains unsolved. The investigation is still open, and the Hampton Police Department continues to seek information from the public that could lead to the individuals responsible for his death. For his family and friends, the absence of justice has been a prolonged source of grief as they continue to hope for a resolution and closure.
