Officer Kenneth E. Wallace

Kenneth E. Wallace

Officer Kenny Wallace succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained four days earlier when he was shot by three subjects who ambushed him as he sat in his patrol car near 215 Pocahantos Place.

Four suspects, including two juveniles, were arrested several days later. It was later discovered that even though all three of the subject fired into the vehicle, only two .380 caliber bullets fired by the adult suspect struck Officer Wallace.

It was also determined that the adult suspect had actually intended to shoot another Hampton police officer who had arrested his brother earlier that night.

The adult was sentenced to death for the murder and was executed by lethal injection on November 9th, 1999. The two juveniles were convicted of murder and sentenced to 13 years in prison. A fourth suspect who did not fire a gun was sentenced to four years in prison.

Both juvenile suspects were paroled in 2004. In January of 2006, one of them was sent back to prison for 30 years for violating his parole. In September of 2007 the other suspect violated the terms of his release.

Officer Wallace had served with the Hampton Police Department for seven years. He was survived by his daughter, fiancee, parents, grandmother, and sister.