In the early morning hours of July 9, 2012, James Wesley Dix, a 57-year-old man, was waiting at a bus stop at the corner of 25th Street and Parish Avenue in Newport News, Virginia, on his way to work. Tragically, he would never make it to his destination. As he waited, he was approached by an individual who robbed and then shot him. Even in his final moments, Dix was able to provide a description of his assailant to the police, stating that a male had approached him, robbed him, and then shot
him. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the death of James Dix moved swiftly. A witness to the horrific event saw the suspect shoot Dix with a rifle and then take his cell phone and wallet. This information, along with the description provided by Dix himself, allowed detectives to identify a suspect. The day after the incident, police, with the assistance of a fugitive unit, descended on a motel in the neighboring city of Hampton. There, in room 234, they located and arrested a 17-year-old in connection with the murder. The arrest was made without incident, though officers did have to force their way into the motel room.
Police also recovered a weapon that they believed was used in the commission of the crime. The firearm, along with other evidence gathered at the scene, was sent for analysis. The community's assistance was credited by law enforcement as being instrumental in the quick identification and apprehension of the teenage suspect, with many calls being made directly to detectives and to the anonymous crime line. Family and friends of James Dix gathered for a vigil to remember him in the wake of his sudden and violent death.
