On the night of May 5, 2025, 29-year-old Xavier D. Sterling was shot and killed outside Chance’s Restaurant and Lounge on Settlers Landing Road in Hampton, Virginia. Sterling, an African American U.S. Army veteran and father of two young daughters, had been at the restaurant with friends when a dispute that started inside moved outdoors. According to reports, Sterling stepped in to try to break up the altercation and was struck by gunfire from an unidentified person.

Hampton police were called about 10:50 p.m. and found Sterling with life-threatening gunshot wounds; he was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. The Hampton Police Division’s Major Crimes Unit took over the investigation, and no suspects had been taken into custody in the initial reports. Family members described Sterling as intelligent, humorous, and talented; his mother, Cheryl Johnson-Sterling, said he had no known enemies and was killed trying to prevent further violence.

What can readers who were at Chance’s that night or who know anything about the dispute share with investigators?