Family vows to honor Halifax County man’s legacy after tragic shooting

HALIFAX COUNTY, Va. (WSET) — The family of a Halifax County man shot in July is hurting and struggling to come to terms with his death, but they are committed to ensuring his name lives on.

Travis Ragsdale’s family said he was loved by so many people. His sister Tangi and cousins ​​Damienne and Twanitta described him as selfless, kind and ambitious. They said he was someone they could rely on and who would put a smile on their faces.

“He was fun-loving,” Tangi said. “He always looked out for you, for everyone.” Travis was that person, if he could do anything for you, he would.

“He was very special to our family, a breath of fresh air,” Twanitta added. “In a room full of a thousand people, he would stand out.”

Ragsdale was filmed on July 30 on Thompson Store Road. Authorities said they found him lying face down next to a vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

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His sister Tangi said when she received the call that she had never experienced so much pain.

“My heart felt like someone was stabbing me, that was the pain I felt,” Tangi said.

Ragsdale was the youngest of fourteen grandchildren. His cousin Damienne said the loss had left her family heartbroken.

“He was our first baby,” Damienne said. “This loss was so profound because it was a part of our identity, this is who we are, we are a family. It really changed the landscape of our family as a whole.”

Ragsdale’s sister says what he brought to the world can never be replaced.

“The person who did this took a life,” Tangi said. “You cost a life, you thought.” But it wasn’t just a life, because that one life influenced so many other lives. So many other lives have been impacted by one person’s senseless actions.”

It’s not the only loss the family has suffered this year. In June, two of Ragsdale’s cousins ​​- Dre and Elijah Tucker – died in a tragic boating accident on Banister Lake in Halifax County.

“We hadn’t gotten over the other losses,” Tangi said. “So it was grief, on top of grief, on top of grief.”

ABC13 interviewed Ragsdale the day after the accident. He talked about how special Dre and Elijah were to him.

The family prays that whoever is responsible will face the consequences.

“We hope that the legal system is on our side and justice is served,” Tangi said.

According to the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect in Ragsdale’s murder – Raqwan Thompson – was arrested in September in South Carolina.

Thompson is currently in custody in South Carolina awaiting extradition to Halifax County, where he has been charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Ragsdale’s birthday is later this month. His family wants to celebrate him and cherish all the wonderful memories and love he gave them.