Two arrested for murder of former Southampton County man

Published 11:45 am Monday, September 17, 2012

RICHMOND—Two people have been arrested for the Sept. 9 murder of a former Southampton County man, Richmond police reported.

Lakeisha Walker, 32, and Curtis Bassett, 41, were charged with conspiracy to commit murder in the death of James Earl Porter, 39, of Richmond, police said.

Assisted by the Henrico Police SWAT Team and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, Richmond police arrested the two at a home in Henrico County. Additional charges are pending indictments from the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

Police found Porter dead after they were called to a home for reports of shots fired and a man down. He was taken to VCU Medical Center, where he later died.

The state Medical Examiner’s Office will make the determination on the exact cause of death.

A construction worker and former Marine, Porter was a 1992 Southampton High School graduate.

He was the son of the late David Porter and Pearl Ella Denson. The late Samuel and Shirley Williams raised him.