Crime
Jeremiah Quinones Accused of Fatally Shooting Lequan Cherry Inside Virginia Beach Smoke Shop
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A preliminary hearing was held Thursday morning for 22-year-old Jeremiah Quinones of Norfolk, who is facing multiple felony charges in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred inside a Virginia Beach smoke shop earlier this year.
Quinones is accused of shooting and killing 26-year-old Lequan Cherry, also of Norfolk, during an incident at the Happy Smoke Super Gift Shop on Virginia Beach Boulevard.
The shooting reportedly stemmed from a verbal altercation, according to Virginia Beach police.
During Thursday’s court proceedings, the Commonwealth called multiple witnesses, including Cherry’s girlfriend, who provided key testimony.
She told the court that Cherry had picked her up from work earlier that day, with their 7-year-old son riding in the back seat.
She said Cherry planned to make a quick stop at the store before heading home.
According to her testimony, Cherry entered the shop first, followed shortly by Quinones.
Moments later, she said she heard gunshots and saw Quinones fleeing the store.
She rushed inside and discovered Cherry on the ground, gravely wounded but still alive at that time.
She testified that Quinones returned to the store twice following the shooting, though the reasons for his return were not specified in court.
The lead homicide investigator also took the stand, confirming that surveillance footage from the store captured the sequence of events as they unfolded.
The detective testified that Cherry had died by the time officers arrived on the scene.
Under cross-examination, defense attorneys emphasized that Cherry’s girlfriend did not personally know Quinones. However, she stated she recognized him from photos she had seen on social media.
Quinones was arrested on the day of the shooting following a vehicle pursuit.
He is currently charged with first-degree murder, malicious wounding, and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Family members of the victim were present in the courtroom but declined to speak publicly.
The case is expected to be presented to a grand jury, which could convene as early as June.
Crime
Former Texas Worship Minister and Christian Musician Jon Sheptock Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — A married Christian musician and former worship minister who once performed at a rally for former President Donald Trump has been arrested on multiple child sexual abuse material (CSAM) charges, authorities confirmed.
According to officials, Jon Sheptock, a former minister at First Montgomery Baptist Church, was taken into custody on September 26 by detectives from the Montgomery County Constable’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Unit.
He faces charges of possession and production of child pornography following a detailed investigation into allegations of long-term misconduct.
The arrest was based on testimony from a woman who alleged that Sheptock stole a photograph of her approximately nine years ago, when she was 17 years old.
The victim told investigators that after sending her the image, Sheptock demanded explicit photographs and later sent her a video depicting a violent assault, warning that he “did not want that to happen to her.”
Court records further indicate that Sheptock showed the victim nude images of both adults and minors on his computer.
Investigators allege that the misconduct continued as recently as October 2023, when Sheptock reportedly sent a text message to the victim containing a nude image of young girls.
Before his arrest, Sheptock was widely known as a Christian recording artist and motivational speaker.
His now-deleted website biography stated that he was born without arms and with one leg shorter than the other, yet went on to describe himself as a “thriving Christian recording artist and speaker.” He has been married for 26 years and is the father of three daughters.
In a public statement, First Montgomery Baptist Church confirmed that Sheptock was immediately removed from all ministry responsibilities following his arrest.
The church emphasized that Sheptock did not hold any position involving direct contact with children, and there is no indication that minors associated with the church were involved or affected.
Sheptock gained wider public attention in January 2022, when he performed the national anthem at a rally for then-President Donald Trump, according to The Independent.
If convicted, Sheptock faces a potential prison sentence ranging from two to twenty years.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are encouraging anyone with additional information to contact the Montgomery County Constable’s Office Human Traffic.