PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A former Portsmouth police officer is now in custody and indicted in connection to the shooting death of a man in 2018.
According to police, officers were responding to a report of an armed home invasion on May 13, 2018, on Navajo Trail. When they got there, they encountered a man and woman who were armed.
Police said they gave them commands, but the man, Willie Marable, didn't listen. That's when police shot and killed Marable.
Now, nearly five years later, Vincent McClean, one of the officers involved in the events of that night, has been indicted. McClean, who has since left the police department, now faces a voluntary manslaughter charge in connection to what happened.
Marable's family told News 3 back in 2018 that he lived down the street from where the incident occurred and they have a lot of questions about what happened.
"It was devastating. It was really devastating," Lorri Flythe, Marable's mom, told News 3 back in 2018. "I did not need to hear that. My son is a good son. He would've been 29 on Wednesday."
Flythe said Marable was the father of a young daughter.
RELATED: Second Portsmouth home invasion suspect appeared in court Tuesday
"She's only two and when he comes home she rushes to the door and says, 'Dada how are you? Dada how are you?'" Flythe said. "Now we don't have that anymore. It's gone. It's sad, very sad."
On Wednesday, Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney Stephanie Morales told News 3 this is all about accountability. She was particular about how she explained why the officer has now been indicted.
When the case began, the investigation was done by Virginia State Police. Morales said she requested additional information from a different entity, which is why she says it took until the end of 2022 for her to get the case, and now, bring the case to a grand jury for indictment.
Morales did not go into the particulars of why she took the case to a grand jury, but she said the accountability extends beyond who actually shot and also includes anyone who is responsible for preserving the lives of others.
Morales said when law enforcement personnel fail to meet those requirements, they will be held accountable.
"It is my responsibility to ensure that we have accountability and it doesn't matter who needs to be held accountable," Morales said. "If there's a harm that needs to be done, my office is responsible for making sure that we hold anyone accountable."
As for what that exactly means, Morales said more information will come out in court.
"This is a system that's supposed to be rooted in fairness and justice and that's for everyone," she said. "We have to make sure that we get this right, and so while we want to move quickly, we have to make sure that we move correctly and we get this right."
News 3 reached out to the Portsmouth Police Department for information on McClean about when and why he left the department. They said he retired in 2020.
On Friday, March 3, around 3 a.m., McClean turned himself in.
McClean is the third officer that Morales' office has sought to directly indict since she took office in 2015.
Stay with News 3 for updates.
