More details about double homicide emerge; Hopewell council, citizens urge witnesses to speak up
HOPEWELL – A dice game gone wrong at an overcrowded house party led to shootings that left two people dead, and police searching for answers, clues and suspects.
Even though it was not on City Council’s agenda Tuesday night, the incident was definitely on the minds of councilors and citizens who attended the meeting. Among a group that police estimated at between 150-200 people, the night's speakers mused about how there could not have been any witnesses ... and why that needs to stop.
“It’s a crying shame that you have a crowd of between 100-200 people and not one person saw something,” Mayor Johnny Partin Jr. said. The crime scene – the 300 block of North Radford Drive – is in his Ward 3.
Ward 6 Councilor Brenda Pelham said it was time to change minds, especially among young people, that it is indeed OK to share with authorities what they might know about the double homicide or for that matter, any criminal activity they may witness. She cited an upcoming “Stop the Violence “rally Aug. 3 in Hopewell as a potential way to drive home that message.
“Maybe we can change the young people’s mindsets,” Pelham said. “Snitches don’t give you stitches; they give you a safer community.”
Sha’rah Fuller, captain of the Ward 5 Neighborhood Watch program, said Hopewell is “very, very small,” and because of that, “we need people to speak up.
“We all know the issues that are going on in this city, and no one’s dialing 911,” Fuller said.
Fuller said she has lost family members to violence, “and that’s not a badge of honor, that's a badge of shame because it should never occur.” Residents need to step up and let their family and friends, especially the younger ones, know when their behavior is teetering on criminal.
“Eleven-year-olds who don’t listen become 31-year-olds who are being arrested,” Fuller said. “They become adults who don’t listen.”
“Eleven-year-olds who don’t listen become 31-year-olds who are being arrested. They become adults who don’t listen.”
Sha'rah Fuller, a Hopewell Neighborhood Watch captain
Related: Hopewell Police investigate early morning double homicide
Chief: Investigation continues
Police Chief Greg Taylor, who was at Tuesday’s meeting, confirmed to The Progress-Index that the shooting began over a craps game that turned violent. Twenty-three-year-old Damonye Lamont Taylor of Hopewell, and Dequante Travel Roney, 30 of Prince George County, were shot in the fracas that ensured – Taylor died at the scene, and Roney died shortly after arrival at TriCities Hospital in Hopewell.
Police from surrounding localities and Virginia State Police were called out to assist Hopewell with the scene.
The investigation is ongoing but is being hampered by the lack of witnesses coming forward.
“We need the community’s support,” Taylor said. “If you see something, say something.”
Pelham and Partin took an opportunity to praise Hopewell Police’s reaction to the incident.
“I heard a lot of great comments that it could have been a disaster if people had reacted differently,” Pelham told Taylor. “Whatever you’re doing is working ... and I really appreciate the efforts of those young officers you’re training.”
Partin, who also extended appreciation to surrounding jurisdictions for mutual aid, added, “How you guys managed it was very good. My hat’s off to you.”
Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI.
This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell councilors and citizens react to weekend double homicide
