DeVaughan A. Lawrence Identified as Petersburg’s 22nd Homicide Victim

Accident – Death – Obituary News : PETERSBURG – Authorities in Petersburg have recently identified the 22nd homicide victim of the year in the city. The victim, DeVaughan A. Lawrence, aged 29 and with an unknown address, was tragically shot to death late Tuesday afternoon in the parking lot of the Perry Street Lofts located in the downtown area. At present, no information regarding the motive for the shooting or any potential suspects has been released by the police.

Residents residing near the scene reported hearing approximately 5-6 gunshots shortly after 4 p.m. Upon the arrival of law enforcement, Lawrence was found lying face up in the parking lot, and unfortunately, succumbed to his injuries at the scene. In a statement released by the Petersburg Bureau of Police, condolences were extended to the family and loved ones of DeVaughan Lawrence.

As the investigation into this tragic shooting continues, the police are urging anyone who may possess information related to the case to come forward. Individuals with relevant details are urged to contact the Petersburg Bureau of Police at (804) 732-4222 or reach out to Crime Solvers at (804) 861-1212. Additionally, online users can provide tips by utilizing the “Submit a Tip” feature on the Petersburg Police app or the P3Tips app on their mobile devices.

It is worth noting that this incident occurred less than 24 hours after the discovery of a murder-suicide within a residence in Battlefield Park. Two siblings, Renee Robertson-Johnson, aged 58, and Edward Robertson Jr., aged 56, were tragically found shot to death. The authorities believe the incident to be a murder-suicide.

With the unfortunate murder of DeVaughan Lawrence, the city of Petersburg has now recorded a total of 22 homicides this year. This figure matches the record set in 2020 and surpasses the total number of homicides recorded last year, which stood at 21. Shockingly, since 2020, a staggering total of 83 individuals have lost their lives to violence within the city.

It is disheartening to note that this is the third homicide to occur within the cluster of apartment complexes in the past 17 months. In July and December of 2022, two women were tragically killed at the adjacent ArtistSpace Lofts. It is important to highlight that both ArtistSpace and Perry Street Lofts are managed by separate companies.

Bill Atkinson, an esteemed journalist who specializes in covering breaking news, government affairs, and politics, contributed to this report. For further inquiries or to reach Mr. Atkinson, please email him at batkinson@progress-index.com or connect with him on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI..