Shooting of Jiansheng Chen

Jiansheng Chen, a 60-year-old grandfather,[1] was shot dead by a security guard in Chesapeake, Virginia, in the night of January 26, 2017. Chen was playing the augmented reality mobile game, Pokémon Go, in a minivan at the community clubhouse's parking lot when the security guard, Johnathan Cromwell, shot 10 rounds, which 5 bullets hit the grandfather.[2] He was a Chinese immigrant and spoke little English.[1]

Shooting of Jiansheng Chen
Memorial for Jiansheng Chen near the River Walk clubhouse
DateJanuary 26, 2017 (2017-01-26)
LocationChesapeake, Virginia, U.S.
DeathsJiansheng Chen
AccusedJohnathan Cromwell
ChargesSecond-degree murder
VerdictGuilty of second-degree murder and using a firearm to commit murder
Sentence30 years in prison
River Walk clubhouse in Chesapeake, VA. Chen was shot at the clubhouse's parking lot driveway entrance.

On February 16, 2017, Cromwell was charged with second-degree murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison on June 24, 2019.[3]

Aftermath

According to a notice given to the residents by River Walk community, the contract for the patrol services is for unarmed patrols.[4]

After the shooting, River Walk Community Association suspended and then terminated their contract with the security company, Citywide Protection Services.[5]

On February 6, 2017, Andrew Sacks, an attorney representing Citywide Protection Services, which employed the security guard who shot Chen, held a news conference. According to Sacks, Chen repeatedly attempted to hit the security guard with his blue minivan; in response, the security guard fired "in reasonable fear for his life and safety". The evidences also confirmed that the victim had been in the same place 10 days earlier, and, as specified by Sacks, was warned about the trespassing the private property and instructed not to return. More than 60 people protested in support of Chen outside Sacks' office in downtown Norfolk during the news conference.[6]

It was reported that Chen played Pokemon Go "as a way to bond with his nieces, nephews and grandchildren."[3] According to Greg Sandler, an attorney representing Chen's family, Chen was playing Pokémon Go at the time when he was shot.[7] Police said the security guard fired through more than one of the van's windows.[4] The security guard fired several shots through the side window and "then moved to the front of the van and fired through the windshield."[1][8][9][10][11]

On February 14, 2017, 3 U.S. Representatives Donald McEachin (VA-04), Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Grace Meng (NY-06) issued a joint statement concerning the death of Jiansheng Chen. They said they "must know how a game of Pokemon Go turned into a fatal shooting." [12]

On February 16, 2017, based on a news release from the Commonwealth's Attorney Nancy Parr, Johnathan Cromwell, the 21-year-old security guard of Virginia Beach was charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm. The news release also said Chen's van turned into the parking area of the River Walk clubhouse on January 26, 2017 around 11:00pm. Then "Mr. Cromwell confronted Mr. Chen by stopping his vehicle directly in front of Mr. Chen's. Mr. Chen backed up and turned his vehicle around to the point that it was at the entrance of the driveway facing River Walk Parkway when he was shot. Mr. Cromwell had exited his car and did say "Stop" before he fired his weapon."[13] "Mr. Chen has gunshot entry wounds to his upper body area. The gunshot entry wounds are one in his upper left arm and four in his upper left chest".[13]

Cromwell turned himself in the evening of February 16, 2017.[13] At a bond hearing on February 27, Cromwell was denied bond by Judge Stephen Telfeyan.[14]

According to the lawsuit, the security guard has a history of aggression who had "previously drawn and brandished his weapon toward unarmed residents and guests of the River Walk neighborhood." He would go beyond the boundaries of his duties and use excessive force, which resulted in a previous employer to fire Cromwell.[15]

The second-degree murder charge was upgraded to first-degree murder in July 2017.[16] Following the attorney switch, a judge granted Cromwell a six-month continuance from his original trial date of Sept. 26, 2017, WAVY reported. Sacks said the trial was expected to begin on March 8, 2018 and to last five days.[17]

On June 29, 2018, court records show the jury trial was scheduled for February 19, 2019.[18] A homicide detective who investigated the shooting testified in court on February 21, 2019 that "Cromwell wanted to play a video of himself qualifying for a shooting certification, but the detective said he did not want to see it." Then, Cromwell continued to ask, "How was my grouping?" referring to the accuracy of shots he had fired at Chen.[2] Cromwell reportedly appeared in court wearing headphones every day since he was having trouble hearing the proceedings, which implied excessive shooting that can cause ear damage.[2]

On March 1, 2019, a jury found Johnathan Cromwell, 23, guilty of second-degree murder and using a firearm to commit murder.[19][20] On June 24, 2019, a Judge sentenced Cromwell to 30 years in prison. Sacks said that they intend to appeal the conviction.

Chen's family has also filed a $5.35 million wrongful death lawsuit against Cromwell, his employer, Citywide Protection Services, and the River Walk Community Association in the Virginia Beach Circuit Court.[3]

References
  1. "60-year-old grandfather killed by a security guard while playing Pokemon Go: lawyer". NBC News. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
  2. "Body cam, surveillance video submitted as evidence in Chesapeake murder trial". 21 February 2019.
  3. "Former guard sentenced to 30 years in death of Pokemon Go-playing grandfather".
  4. Hafner, Katherine; Daugherty, Scott (February 2, 2017). "Security guard who killed 60-year-old Chesapeake man acted in self defense, attorney says". The Virginian Pilot.
  5. "Chesapeake HOA fires security company after guard charged in death of Pokemon Go player". 22 February 2017.
  6. Hafner, Katherine; Matray, Margaret (February 6, 2017). "Chesapeake man killed by security guard tried to run him down in minivan, attorney says". The Virginian Pilot.
  7. Hafner, Katherine (January 30, 2017). "Chesapeake man killed by security guard was playing "Pokémon Go," says family's lawyer". The Virginian Pilot.
  8. "Politicians, Advocates Call for Answers in Fatal Shooting of Grandfather". NBC News. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  9. "A security guard who fatally shot a grandfather playing Pokémon Go could face 30 years in prison".
  10. "Jury recommends 30 years for security guard convicted in death of Pokemon Go-playing grandfather".
  11. https://pilotonline.com/news/local/crime/security-guard-in-pok-mon-go-killing-asked-about-his/article_6a2c3f8e-0b8b-58b7-a3a5-3fb54eb9b0a0.html
  12. "'Many questions remain': Lawmakers want probe after man reportedly shot while playing Pokémon Go". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  13. "Security Guard Charged in Fatal Shooting of Grandfather". NBC News. Retrieved 2017-02-16.
  14. Matray, Margaret (2017-02-27). "Bond denied for security guard charged in Chesapeake "Pokémon Go" fatal shooting". The Virginian Pilot. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  15. "Security guard charged in "Pokemon Go" shooting had history of brandishing gun, lawsuit says".
  16. "Security guard now facing first-degree murder charge in deadly shooting". 2017-07-05. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  17. "Man charged in death of Pokemon Go-playing grandfather hires new lawyer". NBC News. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
  18. "Virginia Court Case Information". ewsocis1.courts.state.va.us. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
  19. "Virginia security guard convicted of murdering Pokémon Go player". March 2019.
  20. "Security guard guilty of second-degree murder in Chesapeake Pokemon Go shooting".
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