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.
MT. JULIET, Tenn. — Authorities have identified two victims killed during an active shooter incident at Cedar Creek Marina in Mt. Juliet late Friday night.
The suspect, identified as Gary Haley, a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history, is deceased following an officer-involved shooting, officials confirmed.
Mount Juliet Police officers were dispatched at approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday to the Cedar Creek Marina, located in the 9000 block of Saundersville Road, after receiving reports of a man threatening another individual on the docks.
Due to the active shooter report, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding area as a precaution.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound.
The victim was later identified as Robby Brogdon, who was transported to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Despite life-saving efforts, Brogdon later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators determined that the suspected shooter had retreated to a boat within the marina and had barricaded himself inside.
The standoff continued for several hours as officers secured the scene and attempted to resolve the situation safely.
At approximately 1:00 a.m. Saturday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reported that the suspect engaged responding officers and fired shots at them under circumstances that remain under investigation. Officers returned fire.
The suspect, Gary Haley, was later found deceased aboard the vessel.
During the course of the response, officers also discovered a second adult male victim, Nathan Jones, who had been shot by the suspect.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has assumed responsibility for the investigation, which includes a homicide, an attempted homicide, and an officer-involved shooting.
TBI agents are actively conducting interviews, collecting evidence, and working to establish a comprehensive timeline of events.
Upon completion of the investigation, findings will be submitted to 15th Judicial District Attorney General Jason Lawson for review.
Authorities stated that additional information will be released as it becomes available.