Man Sentenced to 3 Years for Assaulting Law Enforcement, Reaching for Officer’s Gun After Being Placed Under Arrest for Shoplifting

NORFOLK, Va. — Kendall Deshawn Murphy, 32, was sentenced on Friday to serve three years in prison after he pleaded guilty to assaulting and attempting to disarm law enforcement when he fought and reached for the gun of an officer who was arresting him for shoplifting last year.

On May 6, Mr. Murphy walked into the Dollar General store at 8474 Chesapeake Blvd. wearing a trench coat, and he began stuffing his pockets with various items. A store clerk called Norfolk Police, and Officer Joshua Jacob arrived at the store to arrest Mr. Murphy. When Officer Jacob told Mr. Murphy that he was under arrest and prepared to place Mr. Murphy in handcuffs, Mr. Murphy pushed the officer and ran.

Officer Jacob ran after Mr. Murphy, grabbed him by his trench coat in the store parking lot, and took Mr. Murphy to the ground. Mr. Murphy tried to fight the officer off for about five minutes — striking the officer twice in his face, breaking his glasses, and grabbing at his service pistol that was secured in its holster. Officer Jacob was unable to call for backup, and another patrol officer who had been driving by the store intervened and helped to detain Mr. Murphy.

The officers charged Mr. Murphy with felony assault of a law enforcement officer, attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer, and multiple misdemeanors including petit larceny and destruction of property.

On Oct. 29, Mr. Murphy entered an agreement to plead guilty to those four charges and face an active prison sentence of up to three years and eight months. In exchange for Mr. Murphy’s guilty pleas, the Commonwealth agreed to dismiss his additional misdemeanor charges. Judge David W. Lannetti accepted Mr. Murphy’s plea agreement and found him guilty.

On Friday, following arguments from the Commonwealth and the defense, Judge Lannetti sentenced Mr. Murphy to serve three years in prison and suspended another nine years in custody on the conditions that Mr. Murphy be of uniform good behavior for five years and complete an indeterminate period of supervised probation following his release. That sentence was between the Virginia Sentencing Guidelines midpoint recommendation of two years and five months and the high end of three years and eight months.

“Mr. Murphy could have chosen to go quietly with the officer, but instead he fought him, a dangerous and unjustifiable escalation of his arrest,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “These frightening situations can quickly spiral out of control, ending in serious injury or death. Mr. Murphy has more than earned his sentence in prison, and I hope that he makes better decisions on his release.”

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Emily A. Woodley prosecuted Mr. Murphy’s case.

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Oct. 31, 2024

Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Law Enforcement, Reaching for Officer’s Gun After Officer Placed Him Under Arrest for Shoplifting

NORFOLK, Va. — Kendall Deshawn Murphy, 31, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to felony assault of a law enforcement officer and attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer as well as misdemeanor larceny and destruction of property after he fought and reached for the gun of an officer who was arresting him for shoplifting earlier this year.

On May 6, Mr. Murphy walked into the Dollar General store at 8474 Chesapeake Blvd. wearing a trench coat, and he began stuffing his pockets with various items. A store clerk called Norfolk Police, and Officer Joshua Jacob arrived at the store to arrest Mr. Murphy. When Officer Jacob told Mr. Murphy that he was under arrest and prepared to place Mr. Murphy in handcuffs, Mr. Murphy pushed the officer and ran.

Officer Jacob ran after Mr. Murphy, grabbed him by his trench coat in the store parking lot, and took Mr. Murphy to the ground. Mr. Murphy tried to fight the officer off for about five minutes — striking the officer twice in his face, breaking his glasses, and grabbing at his service pistol that was secured in its holster. Officer Jacob was unable to call for backup, and another patrol officer who had been driving by the store intervened and helped to detain Mr. Murphy.

The officers charged Mr. Murphy with felony assault of a law enforcement officer, attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer, and multiple misdemeanors including petit larceny and destruction of property.

On Tuesday, Mr. Murphy entered an agreement to plead guilty to those four charges and face an active prison sentence of up to three years and eight months. In exchange for Mr. Murphy’s guilty pleas, the Commonwealth agreed to dismiss his additional misdemeanor charges. Judge David W. Lannetti accepted Mr. Murphy’s plea agreement and set his sentencing hearing on Jan. 10, 2025.

“Mr. Murphy engaged in extremely dangerous conduct, and I am relieved that the officer in this case was not badly hurt,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “We owe Officer Jacob a debt of thanks for putting his own safety on the line, all alone, to keep us safe. Had Mr. Murphy cooperated with the officer, everyone would have been better off. He did not, and his sentence will reflect his choice.”

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Emily A. Woodley is prosecuting Mr. Murphy’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth.

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