‘She won’t die in vain’: Childhood friend of Colonial Heights woman shot, killed spreads awareness of domestic violence

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A Chesterfield County woman is speaking out on the tragic death of her childhood friend, who was killed during what police are calling a domestic violence incident.

Courtney Mallory of Chesterfield was friends with Brittini Black of Colonial Heights for more than 20 years. She told 8News that to know Black is to love her.

"My longest, best friend since we were ten and 11 years old — we were like yin and yang," Mallory said. "She's just a light, just a radiating light."

Just after 7:15 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, officers with the Colonial Heights Police Department responded to the 1500 block of Concord Avenue for several reports of shots fired in the area.

Brittini Black of Colonial Heights. (Photo: Christine Donald)

Officers then found 32-year-old Black outside of an apartment complex. She had been shot several times in her head and leg. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Black's ex-boyfriend and the father of her young son, 44-year-old Earnest Hakim Vines III of Colonial Heights, was arrested in connection to the shooting. Prosecutors confirmed that Black and Vines' son, who is 3 years old, was present when Black was shot.

Black died in the hospital nine days after the shooting. Following her death, a first-degree murder charge was added to the list of charges Vines already faced at the time of his arrest.

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Those charges are aggravated malicious wounding, reckless endangerment of a child, felony child abuse/neglect, domestic assault, use of a firearm while committing a felony and reckless handling of a firearm.

The Friday before Black's passing, Mallory had gone to see her for a night out and had first stopped at her apartment.

"I could tell that the light was dimming," Mallory said of how Black was that night. "I could tell she was stressed or upset."

The two then went line dancing and enjoyed the evening.

Courtney Mallory of Chesterfield County and Brittini Black of Colonial Heights. (Photo: 8News)

Mallory attended a court hearing for Vines on March 6, 2025, where other friends and family of Black were also in attendance. This was the first time Mallory saw Vines since the Friday before her beloved friend of decades passed away.

"To see someone who could have done that to her -- I just, I couldn't ... I couldn't imagine how he could do that," Mallory said. "I was angry."

The 911 call Black made the night of the incident was also played in the court hearing. While listening to it, Mallory -- along with friends and family of both Black and Vines -- could be seen crying. Some had to leave the courtroom due to the emotional weight of that phone call.

8News reporters were in the courtroom and heard Black tell dispatch that she had been assaulted.

Moments later, a man yelled 'I'm going to kill her, I swear to God," and then a loud noise can be heard. Dispatch can be heard asking, "Ma'am?" multiple times, but Black did not respond.

"To hear her in distress -- it broke me," Mallory said. "No one in that moment could do anything for her, to help her."

Mallory said that, just days before the incident, Black was talking about making plans for her birthday, thinking of renting a room in Virginia Beach and just relaxing. Black would have been 33 years old on Nov. 15, 2024.

"She didn't get to see her birthday ... we were planning a friendsgiving," Mallory said, beginning to cry. "I go to text her sometimes [and say] 'Hey, you want to go out?' and [then] I'm like, 'Oh, my God,' ... just to have that absence."

Mallory told 8News that she and Black's loved ones will continue to raise awareness of domestic violence and will ensure that Black's memory lives on.

"She doesn't have to worry about us down here, we're going to take care of each other — we're going to support each other," Mallory said. "We will make sure she gets justice and she won't die in vain."

Mallory said she is grateful for the last words she said to Black.

"The last thing that she did read from me in our text messages was, 'I need you to be happy and safe. When you're in your home, that is our sanctuary,'" Mallory said.

Mallory said she continues to be comforted by Black's memory and spirit.

"I was so happy that [after her death,] she came to visit me in my dreams," she said. "Hopefully, I'll keep seeing her."

Vines will face a grand jury on May 6, according to prosecutors.