Former Navy Sailor Sentenced to 5 Years for Aggravated Involuntary Manslaughter From 2022 Drunk Driving Crash

NORFOLK, Va. — Joseph Nicholas Medina, 24, was sentenced on Friday to serve five years in prison for aggravated involuntary manslaughter after he pleaded guilty to causing the death of his front-seat passenger and shipmate, Zachary Michael Soussa, in a car crash after Mr. Medina had been driving under the influence in late 2022.

Mr. Medina had been drinking in downtown Norfolk with Mr. Soussa on the night of Dec. 9, 2022, and just after 2 a.m. on Dec. 10, he left downtown and was driving with Mr. Soussa as his passenger. Mr. Medina was speeding eastbound on Virginia Beach Boulevard toward the intersection with Park Avenue when he lost control of his vehicle, drove up onto a median, collided with a tree, spun in the air, and hit a second tree. The collision with the second tree ripped the front passenger door off Mr. Medina’s vehicle and caused Mr. Soussa to eject from the vehicle. Mr. Soussa died on impact.

Mr. Medina was transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and treated for his injuries from the crash, and Norfolk Police detained him after he was discharged. Investigators served a search warrant on the hospital to obtain Mr. Medina’s medical records, and those records showed his blood alcohol content following the crash to have been 0.25.

Mr. Medina entered a plea agreement on June 7, 2024, to plead guilty to aggravated involuntary manslaughter and face a maximum active sentence of seven years, and Judge Jamilah D. LeCruise accepted his plea.

On Friday, Judge LeCruise sentenced Mr. Medina to serve five years in prison and suspended another five years on the conditions that Mr. Medina be of uniform good behavior and comply with supervised probation for five years following his release.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Caswell W. Richardson prosecuted Mr. Medina’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Norfolk Police Detective Thomas W. Bowen led the investigation.

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June 7, 2024

Navy Sailor Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Involuntary Manslaughter for Drunk Driving Crash Killing His Passenger in 2022

NORFOLK, Va. — Joseph Nicholas Medina, 24, was convicted on Friday of aggravated involuntary manslaughter after he pleaded guilty to causing the death of his front-seat passenger and shipmate, Zachary Michael Soussa, in a car crash while Mr. Medina was driving under the influence in late 2022.

Mr. Medina had been drinking in downtown Norfolk with Mr. Soussa on the night of Dec. 9, 2022, and just after 2 a.m. on Dec. 10, he left downtown and was driving with Mr. Soussa as his passenger. Mr. Medina was speeding eastbound on Virginia Beach Boulevard toward the intersection with Park Avenue when he lost control of his vehicle, drove up onto a median, collided with a tree, spun in the air, and hit a second tree. The collision with the second tree ripped the front passenger door off Mr. Medina’s vehicle and caused Mr. Soussa to eject from the vehicle. Mr. Soussa died on impact.

Mr. Medina was transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and treated for his injuries from the crash, and Norfolk Police detained him after he was discharged. Investigators served a search warrant on the hospital to obtain Mr. Medina’s medical records, and those records showed his blood alcohol content following the crash to have been 0.25.

Mr. Medina was set to stand trial by jury on June 10, 2024, but on Friday, Mr. Medina pleaded guilty to aggravated involuntary manslaughter. Mr. Medina’s plea agreement calls for him to be sentenced by the judge with an active sentence no longer than seven years. Judge Jamilah D. LeCruise accepted Mr. Medina’s plea agreement and set the case for sentencing on Aug. 23.

“Mr. Medina chose to drive drunk, and he killed his friend,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “Had Mr. Medina called a cab, nobody would have to pay the price for his crime. Now Mr. Medina faces a prison sentence, and Mr. Soussa’s family faces a lifetime without their loved one. If you choose to drink, choose not to drive.”

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Caswell W. Richardson is prosecuting Mr. Medina’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Norfolk Police Detective Thomas W. Bowen led the investigation.

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