Crime
Matthew Croslin charged with involuntary manslaughter in shooting death of Norfolk State University senior Semaj Coleman
NORFOLK, Va. — Semaj Richelle Coleman, a 22-year-old senior at Norfolk State University from Mollusk, Virginia, died after suffering a gunshot wound in an off-campus shooting in Norfolk late Saturday night, October 24, 2026. A 23-year-old man has been charged in connection with her death.
Norfolk police identified the suspect as Matthew B. Croslin, 23, of Newport News, Virginia. According to authorities, Croslin was taken into custody at the scene and subsequently charged following an investigation that indicated the shooting was accidental.
The death of Coleman, who was pursuing a degree in Health Services Management, has prompted an outpouring of grief from the Norfolk State University community.
According to the Norfolk Police Department, officers were notified at approximately 11:45 p.m. Saturday that a woman had arrived at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with a life-threatening gunshot wound.
The woman was later identified as Coleman. Despite receiving medical attention, she died from her injuries.
Investigators determined that the shooting occurred in a parking lot in the 5700 block of East Virginia Beach Boulevard in Norfolk.
Police identified Croslin as the person charged in connection with the incident. He was taken into custody at the scene.
Following their preliminary investigation, authorities said the shooting appeared to have been accidental. Croslin was charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless handling of a firearm.
He is being held without bond at the Norfolk City Jail, according to police.
The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have not provided additional details about the circumstances that led to the shooting beyond their preliminary assessment.
Coleman was a senior majoring in Health Services Management at Norfolk State University. A native of Mollusk, Virginia, she was involved in university life and had recently achieved an important professional milestone.
According to the university, Coleman participated in the Spartans Promise to Persist with Purpose (SP3) program and had recently been inducted into the National Association for Allied Health Professions.
Her academic progress, campus involvement, and professional recognition represented significant accomplishments as she continued working toward her educational goals.
The university community expressed profound sadness over her death, extending condolences to her family, friends, classmates, faculty members, and everyone who knew her.
Coleman’s death has left members of the campus community mourning the loss of a fellow Spartan whose life and academic journey were cut short.
In an announcement to the university community, Norfolk State University confirmed that Coleman had died following an incident off campus in the 5700 block of East Virginia Beach Boulevard.
University officials acknowledged the emotional impact of the tragedy and recognized the milestones Coleman had reached during her time at the institution.
The announcement also emphasized the university’s commitment to supporting students, faculty, and staff as they process the loss.
Officials said there was no known threat to the campus community at the time of the announcement.
The university indicated that additional information would be shared when appropriate and consistent with details provided by law enforcement.
Recognizing that Coleman’s death could leave students and university employees experiencing shock, grief, and emotional distress, Norfolk State University made counseling and support services available to members of the campus community.
According to the university announcement, Student Affairs and counseling personnel were scheduled to provide in-person support from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Student Center Room 149 and the Proximity Community Room on the day of the announcement.
Students, faculty, and staff experiencing grief or other emotional difficulties were encouraged to seek assistance.
The university’s response reflects the importance of providing support to those affected by the loss of a fellow student and member of the Spartan community.
Norfolk police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting.
Croslin faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless handling of a firearm. Police have said preliminary findings indicate that the shooting was accidental.
The charges are allegations, and the case will proceed through the criminal justice system.
As the investigation continues, Coleman’s family, friends, classmates, and fellow Spartans are left to grieve her death and remember her academic accomplishments and involvement in university life.
Channel2 NOW extends its condolences to Semaj Richelle Coleman’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone affected by this tragic loss.
Crime
Vicksburg Murder-Suicide Suspect Cedric Garrett Who Killed His Wife Val-Tricia Today, Also Killed His Brother Derrick Maxey in 2002
VICKSBURG, Miss. — Authorities are investigating an apparent murder-suicide after 53-year-old Val-Tricia Garrett, widely known in the community as “Ms. Val,” and her 40-year-old husband, Cedric Garrett, were found dead inside a vehicle behind the Vicksburg Convalescent Home on Friday, November 13, 2026.
The deaths have drawn renewed attention to a separate fatal incident involving Cedric Garrett more than two decades earlier in the same city.
According to law enforcement reports, the incident began unfolding around 7 a.m. Friday when Cedric Garrett, who used the name “Gee Gskii” on Facebook, began a live broadcast on the platform. During the video, he admitted to killing his wife and spoke at length about their 16-year relationship, alternating between expressions of love and accusations.
Throughout the recording, Garrett repeatedly apologized, stated that he had made serious mistakes, and claimed he had previously sought help without receiving support. He indicated that he intended to take his own life and stated he was driving to the nursing home where his mother worked. At one point during the broadcast, the camera panned toward the front passenger seat, showing an individual lying motionless.
Vicksburg police were alerted to the video as it circulated online and responded to the area around 9 a.m. Officers located Garrett armed inside a vehicle parked behind the Vicksburg Convalescent Home, near the intersection of Shannon and Cherry streets.
Police attempted to establish communication and bring the standoff to a peaceful resolution. At approximately 9:42 a.m., gunfire was reported from the vehicle. Vicksburg Police Chief Larry Burns confirmed that Garrett died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. When officers approached the car, they discovered Val-Tricia Garrett deceased in the front passenger seat.
Court and historical news records indicate that Friday’s shooting is the second fatal act of family violence involving Cedric Garrett in Vicksburg.
On September 13, 2002, Garrett—then 16 years old—fatally stabbed his 20-year-old brother, Derrick Dewayne Maxey, at their shared residence at 1425 Oakland Street. According to contemporary reporting by The Vicksburg Post, the stabbing occurred during a domestic argument in which Garrett picked up a knife and struck Maxey once in the left side.
Emergency medical personnel transported Maxey by ambulance to River Region Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. His body was subsequently sent to Pearl, Mississippi, for an autopsy.
The Vicksburg Police Department is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Friday’s apparent murder-suicide. Further details regarding the timeline of Val-Tricia Garrett’s death have not yet been released by officials.
News of Val-Tricia Garrett’s death has prompted widespread grief across Vicksburg, with friends, neighbors, and community members sharing tributes remembering her warmth and presence as “Ms. Val.”
Domestic Violence and Crisis Support Resources
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or a mental health crisis, free and confidential support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week:
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788
- Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
- Emergency Services: Call 911