Photo Courtesy of The Virginian-Pilot
The murder case involving a young Virginia reporter has taken a turn for the worse.
According to the Virginian-Pilot, the charges against Antoine Legrande Jr. were dropped after two witnesses failed to appear for the preliminary hearing involving the fatal shooting death of Sierra Jenkins, an educator reporter for the newspaper. On Tuesday, Scott Miles, the deputy commonwealth attorney, requested that District Magistrate Michael Rosenblum allow the case to be continued to give the prosecutor time to find the witnesses. However, Rosenblum denied the motion, citing another judge’s ruling dictated there would be no more continuances.
“I don’t believe I have the authority to override him,” Rosenblum told the court regarding his decision to follow District Judge Joe Lindsey’s previous ruling. Only one of the three witnesses bothered to show up in court. The publication detailed that all three people were there the night of the tragic shooting in March.
Miles then asked the Virginia magistrate to formally dismiss the Legrande’s charges because he banked on witness testimony. Filing nolle prosequi would allow the attorney to refile the charges at a later date. Legrande was released from lockup on Tuesday.
Legrande was charged with three counts of second-degree murder in May after he allegedly shot and killed Jenkins, 25, Marquel Andrews, 24, and Devon Harris, 25, outside Chicho’s Backstage. He also injured two other people and faced weapons charges after reportedly shooting a gun after arguing with someone who had spilled a drink on him. The alleged gunman opened fire as people left the crowded establishment.
Legrande’s attorney maintained that the prosecution didn’t have enough evidence to prosecute the man for the crimes. Eric Korslund claimed that his client was at the scene on the night in question.
“I haven’t seen any evidence that Mr. Legrande was involved in this,” Korslund said.
Ironically, Legrande knows violence all too well.
Last November, the 25-year-old suspect’s mother, Nicole Lovewine, was shot and killed along with two other women in Norfolk. His sister and another woman were injured by his sibling’s boyfriend, Ziontay Palmer. His sister survived.
We hoped that Jenkins, Andrews, Harris, the other victims, and their families get justice.