ODU Cold Case: A Trial Awaits

[...] but then, I heard Caitlynn’s name too!” “I was already super happy for him, like I was jumping for him,” Kidd shared enthusiastically, “So like, when my name got called it was like ‘Oh yea, we definitely lit.’” The pair shared there was no bad blood amongst Homecoming court nominees, they were all happy to be there and share this experience together. This is akin to South’s definition of happiness he gave at the Blue Carpet event, which he defined as the support he gives to others and the support they give to him. To top off the night for South, he walked off Kornblau Field to be greeted by his family - who made it just in time. By the time Kidd and South return to Kornblau Field to pass down their crowns, they will both be graduates. Looking forward to their next step in life and maintaining their goals, for South this encompasses financial success and for Kidd she is confident she will be well on her way in her career as a music educator. For now they are both glad to have shared this experience not only with each other but with their ODU community. Kidd, who ran on the principle of providing students and especially underclassmen with an example of how to balance fun with professionalism is an aspiring music teacher. And reflected back on what it was like for her to be standing on the field awaiting the results of the homecoming court race. With seven family members in the audience, including her parents who drove four hours to be there and her aunt and uncle who drove six, she remembers thinking, “Lord, I pray I win.” For South, he was concerned no one was awaiting him in the stands. His mother, little brother and little sister had gotten caught up in traffic. “I’m thinking, I’m just all alone.” says South. South had described his mother as his number one role model in the Royalty Blue Carpet event that prior Monday, sharing that watching her overcome her own personal struggles made him the person he is today. Kidd and South have been friends since freshman year, and affectionately accredit each other for being the other’s hypemen. It was their mutual respect in each other’s ability to be strong, independent, as well as charismatic and communicative to their fellow Monarchs that helped pathe the way to what was about to be the most memorable moment in their college career. South’s name came over the loudspeaker first, “The best part of that moment is when I got in the middle of the field--of course everyone’s embracing me [...] but then, I heard Caitlynn’s name too!” “I was already super happy for him, like I was jumping for him,” Kidd shared enthusiastically, “So like, when my name got called it was like ‘Oh yea, we definitely lit.’” The pair shared there was no bad blood amongst Homecoming court nominees, they were all happy to be there and share this experience together. This is akin to South’s definition of happiness he gave at the Blue Carpet event, which he defined as the support he gives to others and the support they give to him. To top off the night for South, he walked off Kornblau Field to be greeted by his family - who made it just in time. By the time Kidd and South return to Kornblau Field to pass down their crowns, they will both be graduates. Looking forward to their next step in life and maintaining their goals, for South this encompasses financial success and for Kidd she is confident she will be well on her way in her career as a music educator. For now they are both glad to have shared this experience not only with each other but with their ODU community. Kidd, who ran on the principle of providing students and especially underclassmen with an example of how to balance fun with professionalism is an aspiring music teacher. And reflected back on what it was like for her to be standing on the field awaiting the results of the homecoming court race. With seven family members in the audience, including her parents who drove four hours to be there and her aunt and uncle who drove six, she remembers thinking, “Lord, I pray I win.” For South, he was concerned no one was awaiting him in the stands. His mother, little brother and little sister had gotten caught up in traffic. “I’m thinking, I’m just all alone.” says South. South had described his mother as his number one role model in the Royalty Blue Carpet event that prior Monday, sharing that watching her overcome her own personal struggles made him the person he is today. Kidd and South have been friends since freshman year, and affectionately accredit each other for being the other’s hypemen. It was their mutual respect in each other’s ability to be strong, independent, as well as charismatic and communicative to their fellow Monarchs that helped pathe the way to what was about to be the most memorable moment in their college career. South’s name came over the loudspeaker first, “The best part of that moment is when I got in the middle of the field--of course everyone’s embracing me

VICTORIA TILLINGHAST

Shortly before the semester began, a ten-yearold cold case involving the homicide of ODU student Christopher Cummings had a surprising update. According to WAVY-TV 10, the Norfolk Police department announced the arrest of four individuals connected to the 2011 killing of Cummings and the critical injury of his roommate, Jake Carey.

On June 10, 2011, an intruder entered the offcampus residence, taking Cummings’ life and injuring his roommate Carey. It is still suspected to be an attempted burglary that happened between the hours of 4 and 5 a.m. on the corner of 42nd Street and Killam. Police told ABC7 news that Cummings struggled with the gunman, thus saving the life of his roommate. WAVY-TV 10 states that Carey still suffered five gunshot wounds from the incident, along with the emotional scars of losing a friend and no justice for 10 years. Carey told WAVY that just hours before the shooting, a friend of Cummings from Newport News was at the residence to visit, with two others the roommates didn’t know. One of these men pulled a gun on Cummings and tried to rob him. It was believed that the men returned to the residence later that evening to finish the job. Cumming’s father James Cummings told ABC7 News that the neighborhood Cummings lived and died in was riddled with break-ins, violence, and robberies. The Baltimore Sun was also told that this was the second time Cummings’ home where he lived with Carey and his fraternity brothers had suffered a potential burglary. According to Chris’s father, during the first incident, Chris saw a man approaching the home and ran down the steps, pushing him out of the door when Chris saw the man pull a gun. While at the time Chris’s father would believe his death was a revenge killing, police still described the incident as random.

According to the incident report of the 2011 incident, which the Mace & Crown received through a FOIA request, four suspects in the Cummings murder were listed. With one name redacted, the remaining suspects were Rashad Dooley, Javon Doyle, and Ahmad Watson.

Doyle, Watson, and Dooley, along with a fourth suspect Kwaume Edwards, would not be arrested until 2021. According to 13NEWSNOW, all four suspects are being charged with the following:

Homicide | First-degree murder | Conspiracy to commit-first-degree murder | Use of a firearm in commission of first-degree murder | Burglary with the intent to commit murder with a deadly weapon | Conspiracy to commit burglary with a deadly weapon | Aggravated Malicious wounding | Use of a firearm in commission of aggravated malicious wounding | Attempted second-degree murder | Use of a firearm in attempted commission of second-degree murder| Two counts each of discharging a firearm in an occupied dwelling| Attempted robbery

The Theta Chi fraternity held a candlelight vigil at Kaufman Mall in remembrance of Cummings on October 21, 2021. The Theta Chi Fraternity, which Cummings was a member of the Zeta Pi chapter, remembered Cummings as a brother and a member of their community. Cummings’ late uncle Elijah Cummings, a member of the United States House of Representatives for Maryland’s 7th Congressional District, would continue to remember his nephew via his policies and stances on gun control.

“I literally saw his brains splattered on the wall,” Rep. Cummings told the Baltimore Sun, “He didn’t do anything wrong, but like so many of our young people here, his life was taken by a bullet.” Rep. Cummings would pass away in 2019 without seeing justice for his