On a late Sunday night in Norfolk, Virginia, tragedy struck 43-year-old Robert Hines Jr. On June 30, 2013, neighbors on 19th Bay Street were startled by the sound of a single gunshot around 10:30 p.m. and promptly alerted the authorities. When police arrived at the scene, they discovered Hines outside a residence, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after his arrival.
The incident was quickly classified as a homicide, leaving the community in shock.
The investigation into the death of Hines moved swiftly. Detectives diligently pieced together the events of that fatal night, leading to the apprehension of a suspect. Twenty-one-year-old Cartrell Darrell Ford, also a resident of Norfolk, was arrested in connection with the shooting. The motive for the crime was not immediately clear to investigators, who continued to seek information from the public to understand the circumstances that led to the violent encounter.
Following his arrest, Cartrell Darrell Ford faced multiple serious charges. These included murder, the use or display of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and the possession or transportation of a firearm by a convicted felon. As the legal proceedings against Ford commenced, the case remained a focus for the local community, highlighting the persistent issue of gun violence. While the arrest brought a sense of progress, the senseless loss of Robert Hines Jr. left a lasting impact on those who knew him. His girlfriend, Nicole Harris, described him as a good person who could always make someone smile, further underscoring the tragedy of his untimely death.
