*The man accused of fatally shooting Sierra Jenkins, a Virginian-Pilot reporter, and two others in Norfolk, Va., will not face charges after witnesses failed to appear in court to testify.
The alleged gunman, Antoine M. Legrande Jr., 25, faced three counts of second-degree murder. Late last year, District Judge Michael Rosenblum refused to reschedule the case after prosecutors sought a continuance to locate the missing witnesses, according to The Virginian-Pilot.
The prosecutor subpoenaed three witnesses in the case, but only one of them appeared in court. The charges against Legrande were dismissed in November after two witnesses did not show up for a preliminary hearing. As noted by Journal-isms, this marks the third time witnesses failed to appear in court.
“Once again, two individuals, one an eyewitness and the other a surviving victim, failed to appear in court despite the efforts of multiple law-enforcement agencies,” leading Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi told Journal-isms.
READ MORE: News Reporter (Sierra Jenkins) Killed in Norfolk, VA Shooting | VIDEO
He continued, “I am convinced that witness fear played a part in these failures to appear. I urge the General Assembly to pass the witness-protection funding request that the Governor has submitted to this year’s budget. We cannot have justice if people fear coming to court and I will continue to advocate for efforts to protect witnesses and victims.”
“No more excuses. If lawmakers want to strike a real blow against dangerous criminals, protecting good citizens who stand up when it counts is an easy way to do so.”
We reported previously, via CNN, that Jenkins was among the individuals shot and killed on March 19 outside a downtown Norfolk bar. She was 25. Jenkins was leaving Chicho’s Pizza Backstage when an argument started outside the establishment, followed by gunfire.
Officers responded to the scene around 2 a.m. and found Jenkins and two men with life-threatening gunshot wounds. One of the men, 25-year-old Devon M. Harris, was pronounced dead on scene, and the second was transported to the hospital, police said in a news release.
Jenkins was also transported to the hospital, where she later died, police said.
Norfolk police arrested Legrande two months after the shooting. He was charged with three counts of second-degree murder, five counts of use of a firearm and two counts of malicious wounding, per BET.com.
“I haven’t seen any evidence that Mr. Legrande was involved in this,” Legrande’s attorney, Eric Korslund, said.
Legrande has allegedly maintained that he wasn’t at the bar on the night of the shooting.
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