On a summer evening in Newport News, Virginia, the life of James Earl Little, a 22-year-old male, was cut short by gun violence on July 12, 2012. Known affectionately as Earl, he was a creative and energetic young man with a passion for music and dance. He was born on September 11, 1989, in Newport News and had also spent time living and attending school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, before returning to attend Warwick High School.
Earl was a gifted musician, able to play the trombone by
ear from the age of six and often created his own beats to freestyle over. His enthusiasm extended to sports, having played both football and basketball for his high school. He was remembered by family and friends as a kindhearted and personable individual, always willing to lend a helping hand. His playful nature meant he could make you angry one moment and have you laughing the next. A father of three, he was a former employee of Smithfield Foods and Wendy's, and also assisted at a local funeral home.
In the immediate aftermath of his death, Newport News police announced that they were searching for four suspects in connection with the homicide. However, details regarding the circumstances of the shooting, the identities of any suspects, or any subsequent arrests, charges, trials, or convictions have not been made available in the years that have followed. The case remains without a public resolution, leaving a void in the lives of his parents, children, siblings, and a large extended family who continue to mourn his untimely passing.
