A tragic and violent incident in Hampton, Virginia, has left the community reeling following the fatal shooting of 52-year-old Larry Smith on Monday, June 30, 2025. The shooting occurred during an altercation between Smith and 21-year-old Da’Quan Jones near the intersection of Burton Street and Londonshire Terrace. The incident has shocked local residents and left both families devastated, with many seeking answers to the circumstances surrounding the altercation.
Police responded to the scene just before 1:00 p.m. on Monday after receiving reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, officers found Smith lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds. Tragically, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators have stated that the shooting followed a verbal confrontation between Smith and Jones, which escalated as the two were walking near the intersection. Authorities say that during the argument, Jones produced a firearm and fired on Smith, ultimately leading to his death.
The shooting has left a trail of emotional and legal consequences. Jones, a resident of Hampton, was quickly apprehended at the scene and taken into police custody. He is currently facing multiple charges, including second-degree murder, the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, reckless handling of a firearm, and willful discharge of a firearm in public. These charges reflect the severity of the incident, and the community anxiously awaits the outcome of the investigation and legal proceedings.
The grief-stricken family of Larry Smith is left to cope with the shocking loss of their loved one, while the family of Da’Quan Jones is caught in a whirlwind of emotion and conflicting views surrounding the events that led to the fatal confrontation. Lorenzo Jones, the father of the accused, spoke publicly to 13News Now, expressing his belief that his son was acting in self-defense during the altercation. Lorenzo, clearly distraught, claimed that Da’Quan was not a violent person and that the shooting occurred only after Smith attempted to harm his son.
“This is crazy. Now my child is in jail,” Lorenzo Jones stated. “He doesn’t harm anybody for no reason. This man [Larry Smith] was trying to hurt my child, and that’s why he fired his firearm. That’s the only reason. He’s nobody’s murderer, he’s nobody’s killer. That’s not who he is.”
Lorenzo’s comments have fueled a complicated narrative surrounding the confrontation. He also mentioned that a protective order had been filed by a family member against Larry Smith in the past, suggesting a history of conflict between the families. However, authorities have not yet confirmed these claims, and the details regarding any previous disputes remain under investigation. As the investigation unfolds, it is clear that there are still many unanswered questions regarding the relationship between Smith and Jones and the circumstances that led to the fatal encounter.
One of the most harrowing aspects of the incident came from an eyewitness, Sonya Ivey, who lives nearby and was home at the time of the shooting. Ivey recounted hearing gunshots and witnessing Smith collapse outside her window. She described the scene as shocking and upsetting, especially given her previous perception of the neighborhood as a safe place to live.
“I’m shocked, scared,” Ivey said. “I thought this was a safe neighborhood. He [Jones] was running away after seeing this man lying there lifeless, and just the disregard for what he had just done—to this man, to his family—it was hard to watch.”
Ivey’s statement paints a disturbing picture of the aftermath of the shooting, adding to the emotional weight of the tragedy. The fact that Jones reportedly fled the scene without offering assistance to the victim has left many in the community questioning the level of disregard for the life lost and the impact on the victim’s loved ones. As the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone with additional information or video footage from the area to come forward.
The entire Hampton community is in mourning as the tragic events surrounding the shooting continue to unfold. Larry Smith’s loved ones, while too overcome with grief to speak on camera, have expressed a desperate need for answers and justice. The pain and shock from Smith’s untimely death have been compounded by the uncertainty surrounding the confrontation, leaving his family grappling with the loss of a loved one taken too soon. The desire for accountability from those involved is palpable, as the family seeks to understand what led to the violence that took Smith’s life.
On the other hand, the Jones family is equally devastated. They are mourning the legal and emotional turmoil that their son is now facing. Lorenzo Jones, while speaking out in defense of his son, acknowledged the severity of the situation and expressed disbelief over the tragic events that transpired. He emphasized that his son was not a violent person and had no intention of taking someone’s life. “I’m still delirious right now. I can’t believe this happened,” he said, further underscoring the difficulty of accepting the reality of the situation.
As both families continue to process the aftermath of the shooting, the Hampton Police Division’s Major Crimes Unit remains hard at work investigating the details surrounding the altercation. So far, authorities have not released further specifics regarding the confrontation or any past disputes between Smith and Jones. However, they have emphasized the importance of community involvement in solving the case and have called on anyone with additional information to come forward.
The tragedy has not only shaken the families involved but also left the broader Hampton community grappling with the sudden violence that erupted in what was previously considered a safe area. Many residents are now reflecting on how quickly lives can change, and how one altercation can have such far-reaching consequences for everyone involved. In addition to the grief felt by the families of both men, the shooting has also caused many people in the neighborhood to reconsider their own perceptions of safety and security.
The community is left searching for answers to questions that have yet to be fully answered: What led to the confrontation between Smith and Jones? Was there a history of conflict between the two? Was the shooting truly an act of self-defense, or was it a tragic escalation of a verbal argument? As the investigation progresses, these questions continue to linger, and the tension in the community grows as both families await the resolution of the case.
In the end, this senseless act of violence serves as a tragic reminder of how fragile life can be, and how a single moment of escalation can alter the course of many lives forever. As Hampton grapples with the loss of Larry Smith and the arrest of Da’Quan Jones, the community remains hopeful that justice will ultimately prevail and that those responsible for the tragedy will be held accountable. The investigation into the shooting continues, and the lives of all those affected will never be the same.
