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Fight at Farm Fresh grocery store ends with one man dead, another in custody

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Portsmouth, Va. - A 40-year old man is dead after police say he was stabbed outside of a grocery store Saturday night.

Portsmouth Police say around 6:30 p.m. they responded to the Farm Fresh supermarket in the Victory Shopping Center on Victory Boulevard. There they found 40-year old Elvin Elliott suffering from stab wounds.

According to police, a dispute between Elliott and 32-year old Carl William Holder of Chesapeake at the Farm Fresh spilled over to the parking lot. Police say Holder stabbed Elliott while Elliott was trying to flee.

Elliott died at the hospital just before 9 p.m., police say.

Holder has been charged with first degree murder.

Elvin Elliott's father, Eddie Elliott, heard about his son's death around 10:30 p.m.

"About 10:30 that night, I got a knock on the door and see two officers asking me who I was and if I could come sit down, telling me he got stabbed, telling me he didn't make it. I said, what do you mean he got stabbed and he didn't make it? He got killed. He died. So I was just in a state of shock. It threw me off," he said.

Eddie Elliott says he never got a chance to say goodbye to his son.

"I want answers as to why they didn't call me and let me know he was in the emergency room. I could have been there. I could have gave my son goodbyes. I didn't get no information. I found out over the news what happened," he said.

Eddie says Elvin was just getting his life back together. He was back in school to become a barber and working towards his dream of opening up his own shop.

"I was proud of my son. We all make mistakes in life, but he was getting his life together. But things happen," he says.

The question as to why the fight occurred still remains. Police aren't releasing any information on a motive.

"That's the angry part about it, but I just hope my son's life will help some of the other brothers out here. Hey, it isn't about all that. It ain't about killing each other. Nothing is that important. Walk away."