Johnta Raeshawn Fields, 39, was shot in the early hours of Sunday, April 5, 2026, in the 2400 block of Chestnut Street in Portsmouth, Virginia. He was taken to a local hospital and later died of his injuries. The Portsmouth Police describe the death as a homicide and say the investigation is ongoing.

Detectives served a search warrant at a residence linked to their probe and recovered surveillance and communication evidence that led them to conclude the house was operating as an illegal after-hours establishment when the shooting occurred. The homeowner was later charged with animal cruelty; authorities say that charge is unrelated to Fields’s homicide.

No suspects or motive have been publicly identified and no arrests in the shooting have been announced. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Portsmouth Police Investigations Bureau or the Crime Line. Did anyone in the community see activity on Chestnut Street that night or have information about the establishment mentioned?