"Total lack of cooperation" leads to manslaughter plea in Downtown killing

"This case highlights the difficulty of successfully investigating and prosecuting crimes of violence without community cooperation."

A memorial on Market Street at the site of Daniel O’Brien Hall's murder in October 2023.

Last October 14, Daniel O’Brien Hall, 48, was shot downtown in front of the Soul Food Joint at around 3 am. He later later died at the hospital. In May, Charlottesville Commonwealth’s Attorney Joe Platania suddenly downgraded the killer’s charge to manslaughter.

At f…