In the early hours of March 15, 2000, James Dejarnette Jr., a 29-year-old Black man known as DeJay, was found dead by his roommate inside their home in the 1500 block of New York Avenue in Virginia Beach. The State Medical Examiner’s Office determined he died of a gunshot wound and ruled the death a homicide.

Dejarnette was active in his church choir and ran before- and after-school programs for children. He was last known to have spoken with a friend by phone at about 9:35 p.m. on March 14, 2000. Investigators reported that items were taken from the residence, suggesting robbery as a possible motive, and his vehicle was found abandoned a short distance from home about a week after the killing.

A 2009 lead identified a witness who said they saw Dejarnette get into a car with another Black male in his early twenties—about 5 feet 9 inches, 190 pounds, with very short hair—outside a 7-Eleven hours before he was found; that man was never located. The case remained unsolved with no arrests as of early 2025.

If anyone knew James, saw him the night of March 14–15, 2000, or recognizes the person described, please share what you know.