On the night of February 21, 1994, Hampton Police Officer Kenneth Wallace, 29 and a seven-year veteran, was sitting in his patrol car in the Wythe area when someone walked up and shot him twice in the head. He was taken to a hospital, underwent surgery, and died four days later.

Investigators determined the shooting was a case of misdirected revenge. Thomas Lee Royal Jr. and three accomplices had planned to kill a different Hampton officer who had recently arrested Royal’s brother on drug charges. After drinking alcohol and using marijuana, Royal gave handguns to his companions in a shopping center parking lot. When they encountered Officer Wallace, Royal fired a .380 caliber handgun and struck him.

Four suspects, including two juveniles, were arrested. Thomas Lee Royal Jr. confessed, pleaded guilty to capital murder, and was sentenced to death. The two juveniles were convicted of murder and imprisoned, and a fourth participant who did not fire a weapon also received a prison term.

Does anyone have additional details about Wallace’s life or the Wythe-area patrol that night?