Tragic Norfolk Shooting Claims Life of Young Mother: Tyli Scott Arrested After Amber Alert for 4-Year-Old Kai Foreman

NORFOLK, Va. — June 18, 2025 — A harrowing incident that began with gunfire and an Amber Alert has come to a grim conclusion in Norfolk, Virginia. Authorities have confirmed that 28-year-old Alexus L. Foreman was fatally shot on Monday morning, and her 4-year-old son, Kai Foreman, was abducted from the scene. After an intense overnight search, the child was located safely in Virginia Beach, and the man accused of the heinous acts, 31-year-old Tyli Scott, was taken into custody Tuesday morning.

The community is reeling from the news, which has raised serious questions about how a man with a documented history of violence against Alexus was free to commit such an act.

A History of Violence and Legal Warnings Ignored

According to court records, this is not the first time Tyli Scott has been accused of violent behavior toward Alexus Foreman. In March 2020, he was arrested and charged with assault and battery on a family member, strangulation causing wounds or injury, and several counts of credit card larceny, petit larceny, brandishing a weapon, and destruction of property. Though initially granted a $5,000 bond, it was revoked just four months later in July 2020 when Scott not only failed to appear in court but allegedly contacted Alexus in violation of bond terms and punched her in the face.

The court issued an emergency protective order in July 2020, and another again in May 2021, both of which explicitly stated that Scott was to have no contact of any kind with Alexus or Kai Foreman. The documents outlined a pattern of abuse and threats that had plagued Alexus for years and painted a deeply troubling picture of a woman trying to escape an increasingly dangerous situation.

In one particularly chilling report from 2018, court records detail an incident in which Scott went to the home of Alexus’s grandmother, Sharon Atwater, threatening the family while brandishing a weapon and demanding to see Alexus. Despite these repeated warnings and multiple legal interventions, the system ultimately failed to keep Alexus and her son safe.

The Crime and the Aftermath

On Monday morning, Norfolk police responded to a shooting where they found Alexus Foreman suffering from gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses and initial reports suggested that her 4-year-old son, Kai, had been taken from the scene by Scott. Authorities immediately issued an Amber Alert, describing the situation as a high-risk abduction tied to a violent domestic homicide.

Kai was located unharmed in Virginia Beach early Tuesday morning. Scott, who was with the child at the time, was arrested without further incident. He is now in custody and facing a series of charges that include first-degree murder, abduction, firearm use in the commission of a felony, and likely additional federal charges given the nature of the abduction.

At this time, Norfolk police have not formally confirmed the nature of the relationship between Tyli Scott and Kai Foreman. However, given the emergency protective orders and past interactions outlined in court documents, there is substantial indication that Scott was formerly involved in a domestic relationship with Alexus and had repeated access to her and her son despite numerous court-mandated restrictions.

A Community in Mourning

The killing of Alexus Foreman has devastated her family and shaken the Norfolk community. Friends describe her as a loving mother who did everything she could to protect her son. Despite years of documented abuse, Alexus tried to move forward, build a life, and create a safe home for Kai.

“She was always smiling through the pain,” said a close friend who wished to remain anonymous. “All she ever wanted was peace for her and Kai.”

Community leaders are now raising urgent questions about domestic violence protections and the enforcement of restraining orders. Many are asking how someone with Scott’s extensive record of threats, assaults, and protective order violations was not more tightly monitored or incarcerated.

What’s Next

Tyli Scott is expected to be arraigned later this week. Prosecutors have indicated that they intend to pursue the case to the fullest extent of the law. Meanwhile, social services are working with family members to ensure that Kai receives trauma counseling and remains in a safe, stable environment as he recovers from the unimaginable events he has witnessed.

A candlelight vigil in memory of Alexus Foreman is being planned for this weekend in Norfolk. Local advocacy organizations for domestic violence victims say they hope her death will spark much-needed reform.

As the city mourns the loss of a young mother and celebrates the safe return of a child, one thing remains clear: Alexus Foreman’s life mattered, and her story should be a wake-up call to strengthen protections for those living in fear.