In the winter of 2012, a Smithfield, Virginia community was shaken by the sudden and violent death of Travis Dion Newby, a 36-year-old male. On the evening of December 19th, Newby was inside his apartment at the Jersey Park Apartments on Main Street when he discovered an intruder rummaging through his belongings. Having been a victim of robbery before, he acted quickly, attempting to prevent the intruder from escaping.
As Newby held his apartment door shut and called for the police, the
intruder found another way out. The individual pushed out a window screen and jumped from the window. A confrontation ensued outside the apartment, during which two gunshots were fired. One of the bullets struck Travis Newby. Despite his injuries, he was able to communicate to detectives before he died that he did not recognize his assailant and that it was not the same person who had previously robbed him. Tragically, on the same night he was killed, his girlfriend was planning to tell him that she was pregnant with his child.
The investigation into Newby's murder led authorities to Shymeek Laron Stanfield, a 25-year-old from the neighboring city of Newport News. Stanfield was arrested and charged with murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted robbery, and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. His arrest was made by U.S. Marshals in Hampton.
Initially, another individual had been arrested in connection with the murder, but that person was released when witnesses declined to testify. Authorities believed that as many as five people may have been involved in the incident. Following his arrest, Stanfield was held in the Smithfield Jail to await prosecution for his alleged role in the death of Travis Newby.
