NORFOLK, Va. - Two people were killed and three more people were hospitalized after a shooting on Granby Street in Downtown Norfolk early Saturday morning.
According to police, the call for the shooting came in around 1:55 a.m., and officers responded to the 300 block of Granby Street.
When they arrived, they found one victim, identified as 25-year-old Portsmouth man Devon M. Harris, dead at the scene. A woman and a man were taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with life-threatening injuries, and two other men were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The woman, 25-year-old Norfolk resident Sierra Jenkins, later died at the hospital due to her injuries.
News 3's Ellen Ice spoke with Sierra Jenkins's father Maurice Jenkins, who said she was a journalist with the Virginian-Pilot and a Georgia State graduate.
"I can just hear her voice in my head, 'Hey, Dad,' just always… She was a daddy’s girl," Maurice Jenkins said. "All kinds of life and opportunity ahead of her, but it was cut short because of senseless violence."
The Virginian-Pilot released a statement on Facebook regarding Sierra Jenkins's death, saying she joined the newspaper in 2020. She previously worked at Atlanta Magazine and CNN before coming back to Hampton Roads.
We are devastated to report that Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press reporter Sierra Jenkins was among the victims of an overnight shooting in downtown Norfolk. She was 25.
For two years, she's covered the stories of Hampton Roads with compassion and care. She worked at Atlanta Magazine and CNN before coming home to Hampton Roads in 2020. Most recently, Sierra has been reporting on school policies and issues across the region.
Sierra was funny, energetic and full of enthusiasm. We are absolutely heartbroken.
Our community is better because of her reporting.
News 3 sends our deepest condolences to everyone at the Virginian Pilot.
An eyewitness News 3 spoke to said that there was a large argument outside of Chicho's before the shooting happened. He then heard six shots and saw people lying in the street.
During a virtual meeting with the Downtown Norfolk Civic League on Monday, Chief Boone stated that the shooting was the result of an argument over a spilled drink.
Officials say Norfolk Police will be stepping up patrols in the Downtown Norfolk area starting this Thursday.
There is currently no suspect information, and homicide detectives are still investigating this shooting.
Governor Youngkin released the following statement:
Our hearts are breaking for the lives lost in Norfolk, including Sierra Jenkins.
— Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA) March 19, 2022
The First Lady and I are praying for their families, friends, and the Virginian-Pilot community.https://t.co/dG4J5RaLvv
Senator Tim Kaine also sent his blessings to the victims' families:
So sad at this news. Blessings to the victims’ families. https://t.co/ocgpctMRJ2
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) March 19, 2022
Senator Mark Warner shared his condolences:
Gun violence is a tragic epidemic. Thinking of the victims of last night’s shooting in Norfolk, and their families.
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) March 19, 2022
Locally, Norfolk Sheriff Joe Baron reacted to the violence saying:
"Following a violent weekend throughout Hampton Roads, our thoughts are with the victims and their families.
It's times like this that we must come together as a community and spread the message that violence is not the answer.
As leaders we need to be proactive and find meaningful ways to reduce crime in our streets. We must continue to have open dialogue about the violence plaguing our community and find constructive ways citizens can learn to resolve conflict.
Healthy social skills need to be taught at an early age and continue to evolve through adolescence and adulthood.
Our communities must come together for the betterment of our youth and their future."
Granby High School Principal Tommy Smigiel released a statement as well. His school was on lockdown last week because of a report of a armed student. Later police made an arrest and charged the person with "brandishing a firearm.” The school then released a statement saying no gun was found at the school.
"We have to come together as a region and find solutions to end the violence in Hampton Roads. I don't think anyone has all of the answers, but as a region, we should be able to pull our resources together as this is impacting all of our cities. Approaching this as a region is much more powerful than each city trying to do it on our own.
Sierra Jenkins was a student at Granby High School when I was an Assistant Principal. Sierra is another innocent life taken due to senseless violence. We have to get guns off the streets. We need to find ways to help people resolve their conflicts without violence."
Portsmouth Police gave a Letter of Appreciation and Condolences to the Virginian-Pilot in honor of Sierra Jenkins:
Today we gave a Letter of Appreciation and Condolences to @virginianpilot in honor of Sierra Jenkins. It is signed by the Chief, Asst. Chiefs, and the PIO. Ms. Jenkins was a dedicated community partner. Her death is a profound loss and she will remain in our hearts and prayers. pic.twitter.com/yQr0SEKsJB
— PortsmouthPD (@PortsmouthPD) March 22, 2022
If you or someone you know has information in this case that could help police, take action and call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
#NorfolkPD is investigating a shooting in the 300 block of Granby Street. A man was pronounced dead at the scene. A woman and a man went to SNGH with life-threatening injuries. Two other men went to SNGH w/ non-life-threatening injuries. Call came in around 1:55 a.m. pic.twitter.com/SMLoXPZQa5
— Norfolk Police Dept (@NorfolkPD) March 19, 2022
