On a Saturday morning in Portsmouth, Virginia, the life of 32-year-old Melvin D. Brown was tragically cut short on October 25, 2014. Brown was found with gunshot wounds to his upper body in the 900 block of Queen Street in the Olde Towne section of the city. Emergency services were called to the scene around 9:45 a.m., and Brown was rushed to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to 33-year-old
Lawrence L. Gordon, Jr. as the primary suspect. A warrant for his arrest was issued, and a search ensued. Gordon managed to elude authorities for a short time, but he was apprehended in North Carolina on November 6, 2014. Following his arrest, he was extradited back to Virginia on July 9 of the following year to face charges related to Brown's death. The charges against him included murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Information that surfaced following the incident suggested the shooting may have stemmed from a dispute during a dice game. While the specific details of the trial and conviction are not widely available, it is understood that a Portsmouth man received a 12-year sentence in connection with the fatal shooting that occurred during the game. This outcome brought a measure of resolution to the violent death of Melvin D. Brown, a man remembered by friends and family.
