VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – A former Navy Sailor entered guilty plea for the 2016 death of an 18-year-old Virginia Beach woman.
Alec Wagner, 24, was arrested and charged with Involuntary Manslaughter for the death of Aleigha Hawkingberry in October 2016.
Alec Spencer Wagner
Police were called to the 1100 block of Mondrian Loop shortly before 10 p.m. that night.
Once on scene, they say they found Hawkingberry suffering from a gunshot wound in the street outside of her home. She died from her injuries at the scene.
According to the medical examiner, Hawkingberry died from a single gunshot wound that entered her chest and exited her back.
Police detained a man at the scene and soon after announced Wagner's arrest.
At the time, Fleet Forces confirmed that Wagner was a U.S. Navy Sailor but his attorney said he is no longer enlisted.
Hawkinberry's family did not want to speak after court but her friends told News 3 that she had an infectious smile and an amazing personality.
"She was just an amazing person she was the person you would want to see in the morning because she could brighten your day just by saying hello," said Michael Demetros, a friend of Aleigha's.
According to court documents, Wagner told investigators he and Hawkingberry were "high school friends".
The documents state that told them told them the shooting was an accident and when officers arrived on scene he was applying pressure to her wounds.
Wagner is set to be sentenced in July.
He faces up to 10 years in prison.
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