In the late hours of November 12, 2014, the life of 17-year-old Travious M. Keeling was tragically cut short in Norfolk, Virginia. A Black male, Keeling was inside an upstairs apartment in a duplex located in the 400 block of Middlesex Street when gunfire erupted around 11:30 p.m. When police responded to a 9-1-1 call about a gunshot victim, they found the teenager unresponsive.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The residence where Keeling lived with his mother and sister was left riddled with nearly a dozen bullet holes, a stark testament to the violence that had unfolded. His landlord described him as a mild-mannered teen and noted that the family had been good tenants for the two years they resided there. The shooting not only took a young life but also instilled fear in the surrounding Berkley community, as it was the second fatal shooting of a teenager in the area in less than a week.
In the wake of the shooting, Norfolk detectives began an investigation with very little initial information. They reached out to the Berkley community, urging residents to come forward with any details that might help solve the case. This plea for public assistance proved fruitful, as tips and information from community leaders and concerned citizens began to flow to the police department. This partnership between the community and law enforcement was crucial in developing leads.
The collaborative effort led to a significant breakthrough in the case. On December 31, 2014, Norfolk Police arrested 27-year-old Christopher Hare, a resident of the Berkley neighborhood. Hare was subsequently charged with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in connection with Travious Keeling's death. The arrest brought a measure of relief to a community shaken by the violent loss of a young life.
