Stephen Ball dies in fatal Williamsburg police shooting

Stephen Ball dies in fatal Williamsburg police shooting
Fatal Williamsburg police shooting death of Stephen Ball – Obituary

Stephen Ball, 33, of Newport, North Carolina, was shot and killed by police on January 28, 2026, following a violent incident outside a Ross store in Williamsburg. Ball randomly attacked a woman as she was leaving the store before fleeing the scene.

Rachel Rouse, an employee at a nearby Tropical Smoothie Cafe, witnessed the situation and immediately called 911, providing real-time updates on Ball’s location. She followed him with her phone, streaming video of him running toward a nearby Home Depot.

Inside the store, Ball armed himself with a hammer and lunged at officers. Two James City County Police officers responded by shooting Ball, and he was later pronounced dead.

The woman who was stabbed survived the attack and is expected to recover. Local law enforcement agencies were able to track down Ball quickly, thanks to Rouse’s assistance. Authorities have confirmed that the officers acted in defense of the public, and the investigation is ongoing.