In the summer of 2011, a young man's life was cut short on a street in Hampton, Virginia. Ricky Keon Calloway, a 21-year-old male, was walking on Westwood Avenue on the evening of July 2nd when a blue four-door sedan approached him. An exchange of gunfire suddenly erupted between Calloway and the occupants of the car, and in the ensuing violence, Calloway was fatally wounded.
The incident sent ripples of shock and grief through the community and left his family mourning the loss of a son, father, and brother.
Born on January 10, 1990, Ricky was remembered as someone who enjoyed sports, singing, shopping, and cooking. He had been a student in both the Duval County Public School System in Florida and later in the Virginia School System. He was a father to one daughter. His life was celebrated by a large family, including his mother, father, grandparents, siblings, and a host of other relatives and friends who cherished their time with him.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Hampton police launched an extensive investigation. Their efforts led to the arrests of three men in connection with Calloway's death. Prince Bell, 25, of Newport News, Marcus Moody, 22, of Hampton, and Kwaume Edwards, 22, of Newport News, were all charged with second-degree murder and firearms offenses. The community hoped for justice and a resolution to the senseless violence that had claimed a young life.
Despite the initial arrests and charges, the path to justice proved to be fraught with challenges. In December of 2011, the charges against all three suspects were dropped. The Hampton Commonwealth's Attorney's Office made the difficult decision to nolle prosequi the charges, citing insufficient evidence to move forward with the case. This legal maneuver meant that while the charges were dismissed, they could be refiled in the future if new and compelling evidence were to surface. The investigation into the death of Ricky Keon Calloway remains open, leaving his family and community still waiting for the closure that a conviction might bring.
