NORFOLK, VA – The Norfolk community is grieving the loss of James Carter, a revered mentor, father figure, and long-standing pillar of the Lindenwood neighborhood. Mr. Carter, who devoted decades of his 84 years to supporting the area, was tragically shot to death in the very community he cherished.
A poignant gathering of family, friends, and community members took place to remember Mr. Carter. Among those present was a young man who had a significant interaction with Norfolk Police Officer Phan. Both shared a common past as foster children, and Officer Phan remembered him as a neighborhood troublemaker who has since become a community mentor and expectant father.
The young man, identified as Mason, expressed his gratitude to Mr. Carter and to officers like Officer Dozier and Retired Officer Gene Ballance, who positively influenced him during his less commendable days.
Officer Phan, a 13-year veteran of the Norfolk Police Department, reminisced about Mr. Carter’s Triple C convenience store. Remarkably, in his years of service, Officer Phan never received a call to Mr. Carter’s store, a testament to the respect and harmony Mr. Carter fostered in his establishment and the community. The store was a place where everyone felt welcome, and no one left without their needs being met.