Samuel Jones, a 66-year-old Black man, was killed on June 7, 2022, in a quadruple shooting inside a home on Maple Avenue in Portsmouth, Virginia. The violent event claimed his life and the lives of three other individuals, shaking the local community. The other victims were identified as Ashley Merricks, 34, Georgio Devontae Lee, 30, and Oleisha Deanna Mears, 37.
For over two months, the Portsmouth Police Department investigated the four murders. A significant breakthrough came after the community provided tips, including a description of a suspect and images of his vehicle, which helped authorities identify a person of interest. This individual was taken into custody following his involvement in another, unrelated shooting in the city.
Following the apprehension, police charged Raymond Gore with four counts of aggravated murder in connection with the deaths of Samuel Jones and the other three victims.
At the time, law enforcement also announced they had indicted a second suspect, Antwann Gore, who was also identified as Antoine. He too faced murder charges and was considered armed and dangerous while authorities searched for him. Family members of the victims expressed their gratitude for the arrest and pleaded for the second suspect to surrender so he could have his day in court.
Raymond Gore went to trial in January 2024. After the proceedings, a jury acquitted him of all charges. His co-defendant, Antwann Gore, was also scheduled for trial. The motive behind the deadly shooting has not been publicly released by police. As of January 2024, with one suspect having been found not guilty, the murders of Samuel Jones, Ashley Merricks, Georgio Devontae Lee, and Oleisha Deanna Mears remain unsolved.
