North Carolina Man Convicted of First-Degree Murder in 2023 Virginia Beach Shooting

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VIRGINIA BEACH, VA

— A

North Carolina man has been convicted of first-degree murder

in the June 2023 shooting death of a 20-year-old man in a Virginia Beach neighborhood. A

Virginia jury found Jamieson Francis guilty

on Thursday after a multi-day trial.


Victim Shot Multiple Times in Virginia Beach Neighborhood

The victim,

Lonnie Harvey Jr.

, was shot and killed around

11:30 p.m. on June 15, 2023

, near

Garfield Avenue by Northgate Park

. Virginia Beach police responded to reports of gunfire and found Harvey suffering from

multiple gunshot wounds

. He was transported to a hospital, where he later died.

Residents told

13News Now

they heard

a rapid series of gunshots

just as they were putting children to bed. One neighbor described seeing paramedics

working frantically

to try to save Harvey’s life in the street.


Suspect Captured in Florida, Extradited to Face Charges

Francis, originally from North Carolina, was

arrested by U.S. Marshals in Florida

nearly a week after the shooting. He was then

extradited to Virginia

, where he faced charges of

first-degree murder

and

use of a firearm in the commission of a felony

.

Authorities did not release a motive, but confirmed that

Francis was quickly identified as the primary suspect

following the incident.


Sentencing Scheduled for November

Court officials said Francis is scheduled to be

sentenced on November 3

. He remains in custody and faces

a possible life sentence

based on Virginia’s murder statutes.

This conviction closes a chapter on a case that deeply affected the

Northgate Park community

, where neighbors and family members held vigils in the days following the shooting.


Do you have concerns about rising gun violence in local neighborhoods? Share your thoughts or community safety efforts with the Saluda Standard-Sentinel.

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