In the spring of 1981, the city of Newport News, Virginia, was rocked by the tragic death of Patrolman Dennis Jerome Roberts, a 32-year-old man who had dedicated his life to service. On March 20, Roberts, an officer with the Newport News Police Department for nearly 11 years, was off-duty and working a secondary job as a security guard at a downtown department store near the intersection of 29th Street and Washington Avenue. He was a man known for his dedication, a U.S.
Army veteran who had served as a medic during the Vietnam War before joining the police force.
That fateful Friday morning, while on duty in his security role, Roberts identified a man attempting to shoplift a small piece of luggage. Along with another store employee, he followed the suspect out of the establishment and apprehended him, bringing him back inside. A struggle ensued between Roberts and the shoplifter, during which the suspect produced a gun and shot the officer at least twice. Roberts was rushed to Whitaker Hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries approximately 90 minutes later. The assailant managed to escape in the chaos following the shooting, sparking an intense search.
The community and the police department mourned the loss of a man described as a "first class" officer who was deeply committed to his work and his family, even taking on a second job to support them. A significant reward was offered for information leading to the capture and conviction of the person responsible for his death.
Nearly a year after the fatal encounter, a dramatic turn of events brought a violent end to the search for Roberts' killer. In the very same department store where the off-duty officer had been slain, the suspect was involved in another confrontation. This time, a shootout erupted between the suspect and other officers. In the exchange of gunfire, the man who had taken Patrolman Roberts' life was shot and killed. The violent conclusion to the manhunt also left another officer seriously wounded, underscoring the persistent dangers faced by law enforcement.
