In the late spring of 2014, a dispute at a Virginia Beach night club tragically cut short the life of Tyrone Martin, a 53-year-old male from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On the night of May 21, Martin was working as a security guard at the Tropical Delights Restaurant and Lounge on Indian River Road. An argument erupted when a female patron refused to show her identification.
The situation escalated when Andrew Wesley Roberts, who was with the woman, became involved in the altercation with Martin.
The verbal confrontation spilled outside the club, where Roberts pulled out a firearm and shot Martin twice. Emergency services were called, and Martin was transported to a local hospital. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries two days later. The entire incident was captured on the establishment's video surveillance. Following the shooting, Roberts and the women he was with fled the scene, prompting a police investigation to identify and locate the individuals involved.
Virginia Beach Police quickly identified 27-year-old Andrew Wesley Roberts of Chesapeake as the suspected shooter and issued warrants for his arrest on charges of murder, carrying a concealed weapon, use of a firearm, and aggravated malicious wounding. Additionally, a warrant was issued for 22-year-old Chezmin Brittany Suter for accessory after the fact and obstructing justice. The investigation also sought to identify another woman who was present with Roberts.
After a months-long search, U.S. Marshals located and arrested Andrew Wesley Roberts in the Atlanta, Georgia, area in October 2014. He was subsequently extradited back to Virginia to face trial. In December 2015, a jury found Roberts guilty of second-degree murder and use of a firearm. In April 2016, he was sentenced to serve 11 years in prison for his role in the death of Tyrone Martin. Chezmin Brittany Suter was also tried and convicted for her involvement in the events following the murder.
