CHESAPEAKE, Va. - The security guard accused of shooting and killing a man while playing Pokémon Go now has a new attorney.
Johnathan Cromwell
News 3 has spoken to the Cromwell family who say that the security guard, Johnathan Cromwell, asked his attorney, Emily Munn, to withdraw on April 5th. Court paperwork shows Munn filed to withdraw from Cromwell’s case last week.
A judge granted Munn's motion to withdraw in court on Thursday. A. Robinson Winn has been assigned from the Public Defender's Office to represent Cromwell in upcoming proceedings.
Cromwell has been behind bars since February after he was charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Jiansheng Chen, and man who lived in the River Walk neighborhood of Chesapeake.
Cromwell was hired as a security guard to patrol the neighborhood, and claims he shot Chen in self-defense. Chen was on private property and had been cited in the past for trespassing in an area he was not allowed in.
Family members of Chen’s say he spoke little English and was playing Pokémon Go that night to connect with his grandchildren.
Family spoke to News 3 saying they are relieved to have new counsel who has agreed to visit Cromwell 1-2 times a week in jail to keep him updated on his case.
Munn did not want to comment about why she withdrew but in court she cited a breach in communication and deteriorating trust between her and her client.
His next court date is scheduled for June 27.
