Petersburg man charged in deadly Hopewell gas station shooting

HOPEWELL, Va. (WWBT) - Police say a Petersburg man has been arrested and charged in the deadly shooting that happened at a gas station in Hopewell.

The shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Quick Express Store in the 800 block of South 15th Avenue.

Melike Herbert Benjamin, victim of a shooting at a Hopewell Gas gas station.(Hopewell Police Department)

Police say when officers arrived, they found a man with a gunshot wound near the gas pumps. The victim was identified as Melike Herbert Benjamin, 49, of Chesterfield County. Authorities attempted to render aid to Benjamin, but he was pronounced dead.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family,” Chief of Police Kamran Afzal said.

Hopewell Police searching for person and vehicle of interest after man shot and killed at a gas... — Hopewell Police searching for person and vehicle of interest after man shot and killed at a gas station.(Hopewell Police)

On July 12, Jerome Montrez Thompson, 25, of Petersburg turned himself in for the crime. Police say Thompson was arrested and charged with 2nd-degree murder.

Previously, police released images from surveillance videos from the store showing the person of interest, later identified as Thompson, who was seen leaving in a possible gold Chevy Tahoe, early 2000′s model.

Hopewell Police searching for person of interest after man shot and killed at a gas station.(Hopewell Police)

Anyone with more information on the crime is asked to call Hopewell Prince George Crimesolvers hotline at (804) 541-2202 or provide their tip using the P3tips mobile app.

Send it to 12 here.

Want NBC12’s top stories in your inbox each morning? Subscribe here.