In the autumn of 2015, a dispute between two coworkers at a Virginia Beach barbershop escalated to a fatal encounter. On the evening of November 7th, 35-year-old Derrell Jovan Stephens was working at Members Barber and Salon when he was brutally attacked by his colleague, Edward Charles Brooks. The conflict between the two men had reportedly been simmering for months, stemming from an argument over money during a game of dominoes.
That Saturday evening, after another verbal exchange, Stephens walked away from Brooks.
Following the argument, Brooks began a chilling conversation with another coworker and a customer about the television series 'American Horror Story,' remarking that he would show them a real-life horror story. He then approached Stephens, who was sitting peacefully in a chair, and without warning, lunged at him with a knife, stabbing him in the left side. The attack left Stephens critically injured. Emergency services were called, and he was rushed to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery but ultimately succumbed to his injuries later that evening.
Brooks remained at the scene of the crime and was promptly arrested by the responding police officers. He was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder. During the subsequent investigation and trial, the prosecution presented evidence of the ongoing animosity between Brooks and Stephens, culminating in the fatal stabbing. The jury was convinced by the evidence and found Edward Charles Brooks guilty of first-degree murder.
In the end, the court sentenced Brooks to life in prison for the murder of Derrell Stephens. The tragic event, sparked by a seemingly minor disagreement, ended one man's life and resulted in a life sentence for another, leaving the community to grapple with the senseless violence that unfolded in a local barbershop.
