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.
CHICAGO — A 37-year-old Chicago photographer was fatally shot Sunday night in the West Pullman neighborhood, according to the Chicago Police Department.
The victim was identified as Troy Hollingsworth, owner of PolaBear Red Filmz.
Police said Hollingsworth was seated inside his Nissan Maxima in the 100 block of East 118th Place at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 18, when an unknown individual opened fire.
Hollingsworth was struck multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities confirmed.
At this time, no suspects are in custody, and detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Additional details have not been released as the investigation remains ongoing.