Just before 5 a.m. on Valentine’s Day, gunfire shattered the quiet along Lincoln Street in Hampton.
According to the Hampton Police Division, officers were already in the area around 4:55 a.m. when they heard multiple shots ring out. At nearly the same time, Hampton Public Safety Communications began receiving several calls reporting a shooting at Karma Lounge in the first block of Lincoln Street.
When officers arrived, they found an adult man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Police secured the scene and began providing aid until crews from the Hampton Division of Fire and Rescue arrived. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators say the violence started inside the business. A verbal altercation reportedly broke out and then spilled into the parking lot behind the establishment, where it escalated into a physical confrontation. During that fight, police say a suspect pulled out a firearm and shot the victim.
Detectives believe this was an isolated incident. The case remains under investigation by the Hampton Police Major Crimes Unit.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Hampton Police Division at 757–727–6111.
For many in Hampton, Lincoln Street is a familiar stretch — home to businesses and nightlife that typically wind down quietly in the early morning hours. This time, it ended with flashing lights, crime scene tape, and a family now grieving.