William Henry ’JJ’ Hayes Jr., 50, was fatally shot in a Petersburg neighborhood on the evening of October 2, 2023. Officers responded just before 8 p.m. to reports of a shooting near South West Street and Young Avenue and found Hayes with fatal gunshot wounds.

A 1992 graduate of Petersburg High School, Hayes had been an over-the-road truck driver and was remembered for his vibrant personality and community involvement. He and his high school sweetheart, Tabitha Hayes, had been married 31 years and raised four children; they also had a grandson.

Petersburg Police immediately opened a homicide investigation but have not publicly announced any arrests or identified suspects. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact authorities so the family can have answers.