On a tragic night in Hampton, Virginia, the life of 19-year-old Bartholomew Kyle Robinson was cut short. On December 1, 2012, a day that should have been filled with joy as it was the day of his son's baby shower, Robinson was fatally shot in what authorities described as an execution-style murder. The male victim, known affectionately as Kyle, was sitting in a Dodge Caliber with a 19-year-old Newport News woman on Seldendale Drive when the violent encounter unfolded.
Around 1:30 a.m., a
Hampton police officer on routine patrol heard gunshots in the 2000 block of Seldendale Drive. Upon investigation, officers found Robinson suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper torso; he was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation revealed that three suspects had approached the parked vehicle. An argument ensued, and Robinson was pulled from the car, beaten, and then shot twice in the back. The assailants were attempting to rob the couple, seeking money and drugs before they fled. They stole money and personal items from both Robinson and his companion.
In the days following the homicide, the Hampton Police Division made an arrest. Lequis Avari Williams was taken into custody on December 5, 2012. He was charged with one count of murder, two counts of robbery, two counts of abduction, and three counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Williams also faced outstanding warrants for burglary, misdemeanor assault and battery, and misdemeanor larceny. While one suspect was apprehended, police continued to search for two other individuals involved in the deadly robbery.
During the subsequent trial, it was revealed that the attack on Robinson and his friend was premeditated, with the victims having been lured to the location. For his role in the murder of Bartholomew Kyle Robinson, Lequis Williams was sentenced to 23 years in prison. The judge presiding over the case emphasized the preciousness of human life as he handed down the sentence, ensuring that Williams would face the consequences of his violent actions that night.
