A deadly shooting incident unfolded at an Amazon warehouse parking lot in Chesterfield County, Virginia on the night of May 31. The victim, identified as Chelsea R. Johnson, a 33-year-old worker of a delivery service subcontracted by Amazon, was discovered with a gunshot wound and declared dead on the site.
Reports of the shooting reached the Chesterfield County Police Department at approximately 9:35 p.m. Upon arrival, officers found Johnson, a resident of Richmond, Virginia, outside the Amazon facility situated on the 1600 block of Bellwood Road. Multiple witnesses recounted the sound of a single gunshot and a blood trail leading away from the building.
Reacting to the incident, Amazon officials expressed deep concern, stating they were “deeply troubled by this terrible incident” and were extending support to their team and partners at the Richmond-area delivery station. The company confirmed its full cooperation with the active investigation. In the aftermath of the incident, other employees were dismissed and the following evening’s shifts were called off, with wages guaranteed for those impacted.
The ensuing day, authorities apprehended Darryl M. Charity Jr., 31, in relation to the shooting. Also a resident of Richmond, Charity faces charges of second-degree murder, the use of a firearm during the perpetration of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Charity, recipient of a suspended 10-year sentence for a previous felony drug crime, is currently detained without bail at the Chesterfield County Jail.
The authorities disclosed that the shooting, while Charity was picking Johnson up from work, stemmed from a domestic dispute. Both Charity and Johnson shared a residence and had a documented history of turbulent interactions. Chesterfield County Police Department’s Lt. Matthew Dunn disclosed that Charity was sought for a prior domestic violence incident in March and conversations with the victim’s family indicated a pattern of domestic confrontations.
The untimely demise of Johnson leaves her family and friends mourning. Her sister, Yolanda Robertson, remembered her as “the best sister anyone could ask for,” emphasizing her giving and compassionate personality. “Anything she had, she would give,” Robertson reminisced, reflecting on her sister’s readiness to assist others.
Johnson is survived by her two daughters, aged 12 and eight.
