In Virginia, a security guard has been charged with murder in the death of a 60-year-old grandfather who was fatally shot last month while he was in his van apparently playing Pokemon Go.
Security guard charged with 2nd-degree murder in death of Chesapeake man killed in minivan
On Thursday, the Chesapeake Commonwealth's Attorney's Office announced that it is pursuing criminal charges against 21-year-old Jonathan Cromwell, the security guard who fatally shot Jiansheng Chen on January 26. Cromwell is charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm.
According to prosecutors, Chen was driving his van around 11:00pm that night when he turned into the driveway of the River Walk clubhouse parking area. When Cromwell saw the van, he confronted Chen and stopped his vehicle directly in front of Chen's van. Chen then backed up and turned around to the entrance of the driveway facing the street. That's when Cromwell got out of his car, said "stop," then fired his weapon.
Chen suffered a gunshot wound to his left upper arm and four gunshot wounds to his upper left chest.
According to his family, Chen did not speak any English, and was playing Pokemon Go on his phone at the time of the confrontation with Cromwell. There was apparently a Pokemon gym at the site of the shooting.
But an attorney for Citywide Protection Services Inc., the private security company that employs Cromwell, claims that he was acting in self-defense when he fired at Chen's minivan.
"I have reviewed and discussed this evidence with the detective and Chief Wright," Chesapeake Commonwealth's Attorney Nancy Parr said in a news release. "The decision to pursue these criminal charges is based solely on the evidence collected pursuant to the investigation."
James Broccoletti, the attorney representing the Chen family, said, "They are very gratified that they are now one step closer to justice for their family."
"The family is thankful for the Chesapeake Police Department and the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office," Broccoletti said, "and they look forward to having their day in court and to have all the evidence set forth in front of the court and the community that will clearly show that Mr. Chen was a peaceful, caring, loving, unaggressive individual."
More here: Security guard charged with murder of man shot, killed playing Pokemon Go
