Judge Sentences Man to Nearly 12 Years for Malicious Wounding, Being Felon in Possession of Firearm from 2023 Shooting, Violating Probation
NORFOLK, Va. — Jalen Savion White-Kennedy, 25, was sentenced to 11 years and 10 months in prison after being found guilty of shooting a clerk inside a Norfolk 7-Eleven last year, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and violating his probation for prior offenses.
Around 11:35 p.m. on May 11, Mr. White-Kennedy and 25-year-old Walter Eugene Painter entered the 7-Eleven at the intersection of 26th Street and Hampton Boulevard. The pair recognized the victim, who was in the middle of assisting a customer, and began brandishing firearms at him. Mr. White-Kennedy began firing at the victim, and the victim took cover behind an aisle. The victim was also armed, and a shoot-out ensued between the three of them.
The victim and Mr. Painter were both shot, and Mr. Painter died after being transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Mr. White-Kennedy fled the scene, but the victim and witnesses were able to identify him as the other shooter. Norfolk Police investigators secured warrants for Mr. White-Kennedy’s arrest, and the Fugitive Section took him into custody on July 6.
Following a bench trial on Feb. 12, Judge David W. Lannetti convicted Mr. White-Kennedy as charged of malicious wounding, using a firearm in the commission of malicious wounding, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Mr. White-Kennedy was on probation for prior offenses at the time of the May shooting. On March 5, Judge Lannetti revoked three years and 10 months of previously suspended sentences that Mr. White-Kennedy will now have to serve for those prior convictions.
On Friday, April 12, Judge Lannetti sentenced Mr. White-Kennedy for the May shooting to eight years in prison, with another seven years suspended on the condition that Mr. White-Kennedy complete five years of uniform good behavior and an indefinite period of supervised probation following his release.
“Mr. White-Kennedy nearly killed the victim in this case, and we are lucky that he did not,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “Mr. White-Kennedy created a dangerous situation for anyone at that store. Good police work and high-quality video helped us hold Mr. White-Kennedy accountable, and his sentence will protect the community from further acts of violence. We will continue to hold accountable the people who shoot in our community.”
Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Gordon C. Ufkes is prosecuted Mr. White-Kennedy’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Norfolk Police Detectives Maura A. Flatley and Kyle D. Austin led the investigation.
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