Man found dead outside Durham grade school was suspect in Virginia murder, police say

A man found shot to death inside a car in a Durham elementary school parking lot Friday afternoon has been identified as a suspect in a homicide in Newport News, Virginia.

Newport News police identified the man on Saturday as Karlos Evan Andrews, 37.

Andrews was wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of 49-year-old Loren Javell Ransome, on Oct. 5, and was previously said to be armed and dangerous, according to a release from the Newport News Police Department. In addition to first-degree murder, he was being sought on charges of use of a firearm in commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a felon, and shooting a firearm in a public place.

Andrews was found at Eastway Elementary School on North Alston Avenue.

Newport News police said they were notified by Durham police late Friday that Andrews had been found, and that he had taken his own life.

The Durham Police Department said Friday that officers had responded after 4 p.m. to a report of a man who was unresponsive inside a vehicle in the parking lot.

When they got there, the man was already dead, Durham police said in a release.

A spokesman for the Durham Public Schools said officers kept people at a distance from the parking lot.

“School was already out,” DPS spokesman William “Chip” Sudderth said by email. “Any remaining students and staff were kept far away from the investigation site.”

Newport News police said their homicide investigation into Ransome’s death is ongoing, and that the investigation into Andrews’ death is being conducted by Durham police.

This story was originally published October 8, 2021 at 7:25 PM.