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
Wilhelmina Leigh Carlton charged with the murder in stabbing of her boyfriend Darius Montreal Boglin
A 43-year-old woman from Bessemer has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of her boyfriend earlier this month, according to authorities.
Court records show Wilhelmina Leigh Carlton, 43, is charged with the murder of Darius Montreal Boglin, 45.
Carlton was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on March 5 and is currently being held without bond.
Officers with the Bessemer Police Department were dispatched at approximately 7:49 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, to the 3100 block of Avenue B following reports of a stabbing.
According to Detective Justin Burmeister, responding officers arrived at the scene and discovered Boglin suffering from a stab wound in a driveway.
Emergency responders attempted to assess his condition, but he was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 8:10 p.m.
Authorities said Carlton was still present at the location when officers arrived and was taken into custody without incident.
Investigators confirmed that Carlton and Boglin were involved in a dating relationship.
Charging documents allege that the fatal incident occurred during an altercation when Boglin allegedly grabbed Carlton from behind, at which point she stabbed him, resulting in his death.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police are asking anyone with additional information related to the case to contact the Bessemer Police Department at 205-425-2411 or 205-481-4366. Tips can also be submitted through the department’s tip line at 205-428-3541, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.