On the evening of March 16, 2018, 18-year-old James Claggion IV was found dead inside his grandmother’s residence on Chestnut Avenue in Newport News, Virginia. A woman who arrived at the home discovered him and called police; officers who responded at about 10:10 p.m. located James with a fatal gunshot wound. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene and investigators immediately classified the death as a homicide.

James, an African American known to his family as Tutu, had recently returned to Newport News from Atlanta where he had been pursuing a career in hip-hop. His mother, Tamara Brown, and other family members have publicly appealed for information and worked with community leaders to highlight gun violence in the city. The Newport News Police Department continues to investigate; no arrests or publicly identified suspects have been announced.

If anyone knew James, saw activity near the Chestnut Avenue home on March 16, 2018, or has information that could help investigators, please come forward.