News

Actions

Man who killed Norfolk officer, teen previously convicted for assaulting Norfolk deputy

Posted at 9:21 PM, Jun 02, 2014
and last updated 2014-06-02 21:21:17-04

Norfolk, Va. - A memorial is set up on the corner of Wellington Road where two officers stop by to remember one of their own, Officer Brian Jones.

Jones was shot to death by James Brown who fired dozens of bullets from his home Friday night killing the police officer and injuring another.

Earlier that night he also killed 17-year-old Mark Rodriguez.

NewsChannel 3 is learning more about Brown's past.

Most recently in 2012 he was convicted of carrying a loaded weapon with more than 20 rounds. In Virginia, carrying a loaded gun is legal, but you're not allowed to carry one with that many rounds.

That crime was a misdemeanor and Jones never spent a day behind bars since all his jail time was suspended in a plea agreement.

Neighbors tell NewsChannel 3 they gave Brown the nickname of "Wyatt Earp" because he always openly carried a gun which under Virginia law is legal without a permit.

Two years earlier in 2010 he had another run-in with the law. This time he was convicted of assaulting a Norfolk Sheriff's Deputy.

When he was arrested, court documents say he was living at the same home on Wellington Road with his mom and he didn't have a job.

Under another plea agreement Brown served a year in jail and was banned from three Ocean View bars.

Also in that agreement his felony charge of assaulting a deputy was dropped to a misdemeanor.

If this charge had not been lessened, carrying the gun Friday night would have been illegal.

Fast forward to today, a Norfolk family grieves the loss of their teenage son and officers mourn at a make-shift memorial for their fellow officer.