HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — Travell Lavar Giles was a tenor and founding member of the community choir called Lifter of Voices Ensemble, or L.O.V.E.
They practiced at Bethany Methodist Church.
“He came in super tall, kind of quiet, shy, bashful with a real deep voice,” said choir director Jessica Brunson of the 29-year-old Giles. “For a long time, I called him velour because he had a deep smooth voice, almost like velvet.”
Giles was killed in a Valentine’s Day shooting as he worked at the Wingstop in Hampton, found dead inside the business by police, who got the call around 8:15 p.m.
L.O.V.E. wrote on Facebook that Giles “was known to be a good friend and a great encourager. He will be missed, greatly.”
Family members were in the parking lot but did not want to comment.
He was a trusted friend for the last year.
“There were times I would give Trey a ride to choir rehearsal, and I would be venting to him, and he’s given me impressive comprehensive advice,” Brunson told 10 On Your Side.
Brunson never heard Giles complain about his work environment.
“I knew when he went back to this particular restaurant, he never complained about anything, not even his workload,” Brunson said. “There were no complaints about a fellow employee, not to me.”
Brunson also said Giles would never be the aggressor, but he would stand up for himself.
“I’ve cried today,” Brunson said. “I got up and went to work. I sat in my office, and I just broke down.”
Choir practice is Saturday, but Brunson said she doesn’t know how she’ll get through it.
“We will get together, discuss some things and figure out how to move on,” she said.
An investigation from police revealed that the suspect displayed a firearm and shot Giles after a verbal altercation inside the business. The suspect then fled the scene before officers arrived.
At this time there’s no suspect information in the case but police are investigating.
If you have any information about this case, you can submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-888-LOCK-U-UP, downloading the P3 tips app to a mobile device, or visiting www.P3tips.com and submitting a tip.