In the early morning hours of September 15, 2013, a sense of normalcy was shattered in a parking lot in Portsmouth, Virginia, when gunfire erupted, claiming the life of 21-year-old Carlos Deundrew Cooper. A Black male and resident of the city, Cooper was found by Portsmouth police suffering from a gunshot wound in the 3500 block of Deep Creek Boulevard. Despite the immediate response and efforts to render aid, his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident, which occurred around 2:00 a.m. in the parking lot of a 7-11, was quickly determined to be a homicide.
The investigation into Cooper's death drew significant attention from the local community, with many hoping for a swift resolution and justice for the young man whose life was cut short. In the years that have passed since the shooting, the Portsmouth Police Department has continued to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic event. While numerous arrests have been made in connection with other violent crimes in the area, it remains publicly unclear if any of these are directly linked to Cooper's case. The case remains an open investigation, a painful and unresolved chapter for his family and the wider community. Authorities have continued to encourage anyone with information to come forward, hopeful that a crucial lead might still emerge and bring those responsible for Carlos Deundrew Cooper's death to justice.