Nathaniel Braxton Byrd was 24 when he died from a gunshot wound on September 5, 2018, at an apartment on Dunedin Road in Portsmouth, Virginia. Known as Nate, he grew up in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, graduated from Western Branch High School, and attended Tidewater Community College and Longwood University. He worked in local restaurants and was remembered for his adventurous spirit and passion for cooking.

Emergency responders found Byrd with a fatal gunshot wound to his upper body and a friend, Austin Wade Reynolds, with a gunshot wound to his hand. Detectives initially did not identify a suspect or a motive. Investigators later determined a revolver discharged while Reynolds was handling it; the bullet passed through Reynolds’ hand and struck Byrd in the chest. Reynolds at first altered the scene and reported Byrd had shot himself.

Does anyone have information about Nathaniel’s last hours or the people who were with him that afternoon?