On the night of May 25, 2013, gunfire at a spring carnival near the Hampton Coliseum wounded five teenagers and killed 16-year-old Raphael Davis Jr., a Black male from Hampton. He was struck in the upper body, found in the street, and taken to a local hospital where he died. The shooting occurred around 11 p.m. and prompted officials to cancel the remainder of the Hampton Spring Carnival.

Reports say the violence began after a verbal altercation between two groups. A vigil was held in the Coliseum parking lot as family and community members mourned Raphael and called for an end to the violence. The Hampton Police Department arrested two teenage suspects, a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old, later identified as Eric Nixon and Ryan Taybron, on charges including murder, four counts of maiming, and five counts related to firearm use.

In April 2014 those charges were nol prossed, leaving the case unresolved. Anyone who was at the carnival that evening or has information about what happened is asked to come forward.