On the late evening of June 13, 2004, the life of 38-year-old Sean James Sessome, a Black male, was tragically cut short in Virginia Beach, Virginia. At approximately 11:40 p.m., police were dispatched to the 1200 block of Glyndon Drive following reports of gunfire. Upon their arrival, they discovered Sessome suffering from a gunshot wound. He succumbed to his injury at the scene.
The subsequent investigation revealed that two men had entered Sessome's home with the intention of robbing
him, believing he had drugs and cash. A struggle ensued, during which both intruders, who were armed, shot Sessome. Despite his injuries, Sessome managed to make his way downstairs and to a neighbor's door before he collapsed and died. The two assailants fled the scene. Witnesses reported seeing two Black males getting into a silver, late-model Mitsubishi sedan shortly after the gunshots. A third individual, believed to be a Black female, was reportedly waiting in the car. One of the suspects was described as having a medium build with a short haircut, wearing a white t-shirt and dark-colored pants.
For years, the case went cold as investigators were unable to identify the shooters. However, in July 2013, the Virginia Beach Police Department's Cold Case Unit re-examined the evidence. A crucial breakthrough came when a metal bar found on the floor of Sessome's bedroom was identified as a piece of the gun used during the crime. A forensic analysis of this piece of evidence revealed the DNA of Tyrone Stewart Jackson.
In December 2014, Tyrone Stewart Jackson, then 38, was arrested in connection with Sessome's murder. On July 15, 2015, Jackson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, attempted robbery, and use of a firearm. He was subsequently sentenced to 27 years in prison. The second male suspect involved in the murder of Sean Sessome has never been identified, and no other charges have been filed in the case.
