Bradley Kristoffer Kortbawi, 44, was shot dead in the Ghent neighborhood of Norfolk in the early morning of July 6, 2024. Kortbawi, a former U.S. Marine and father, was acting as a designated driver and was standing outside an apartment building in the 1800 block of Core Avenue talking with two friends shortly after 1:20 a.m. when a neighbor, 56-year-old Vandes Jackson, approached and accused the group of using a racial slur — an allegation Kortbawi and his friends denied.

Witnesses say the confrontation escalated quickly. As Kortbawi turned his head, Jackson produced a firearm and shot him at point-blank range in the temple. Kortbawi was pronounced dead at the scene. Jackson reportedly called 911 before the shooting to complain about the alleged slur and again after the shooting to report that he had shot someone; police arrested him at the scene without incident and charged him with murder and use of a firearm.

Does anyone who knew Bradley or was in the Ghent area that morning have information that could shed more light on what happened?