NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Cold case detectives are asking for help in solving a murder they say was witnessed by dozens of people. Demetrius Hunter was shot and killed on March 26, 2009.
"We rode past the incident and carried on our day," said Teresa Turner, Hunter's aunt. She was in the area of Ridley Circle that day, but didn't realize until later one of the two victims was her nephew.
Hunter was just 17-years old when he died. "Demetrius was a wonderful kid. He was an honor roll student. He was about to graduate," said Turner. "He was just a loving person."
Another person was also shot, but survived. "It was a hectic crime scene," said Det. Adrien Schraudt, one of the detectives who responded to the shooting. He's now investigating it as a member of the department's cold case unit. "We believe that Demetrius Hunter was killed in a shootout type situation between two rival groups."
Schraudt wouldn't say if Hunter was involved in the shootout. Hunter was shot in the head and died four days later from his injuries. "It just changed our lives forever," said Turner. "Maybe we'll get closure."
Detectives are hoping the passage of time will help bring forward new witnesses. They say they know who killed Hunter, but need help proving it in court. "There's too much violence going on today and a lot of people would like to stop the violence," Schraudt said. "We need people to come forward."
Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
