Police in Hampton have announced charges in connection to a 2023 double homicide in the city.
On May 15, at about 1 a.m., officers responded to a shooting at the 400 block of Allegheny Road. At the scene, emergency services found 42-year-old Benita J. Mozelle, of Hampton, and 26-year-old Troy L. James, of Newport News. The preliminary investigation showed that “a verbal altercation” escalated into a physical altercation, police said. At some point, the suspect began shooting, resulting in the victims being shot.
Police said Phillip Lee Morris, 35, has been arrested and charged in connection with their deaths.
He is charged with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts malicious wounding, one count robbery causing death and four counts use of a firearm in commission of felony. He is also charged with one count of discharging a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, since the shooting was near Hunter B. Andrews PreK-8 School.
Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com
