Man Sentenced to 21 Years Following Jury Conviction for 2019 Fatal Norfolk Shooting
NORFOLK, Va. – Today, 36-year-old Diandre Wesley Moss was sentenced in Norfolk Circuit Court to 21 years in prison for shooting and killing 40-year-old Eric William Brant in Mr. Moss’ Ocean View neighborhood in 2019.
On the afternoon of July 25, 2019, Mr. Brant was conversing with a friend outside the friend’s home on the 9500 block of 19th Bay Street. Mr. Moss, who lived directly across the street, walked up to Mr. Brant and insisted Mr. Brant cross the street to talk. Home video surveillance footage showed Mr. Brant following Mr. Moss to his home and Mr. Moss becoming hostile toward Mr. Brant. Mr. Moss then went inside his house, came back out with a gun, exchanged more words with Mr. Brant, and started punching him. When Mr. Brant backed up and raised his hands to defend himself, Mr. Moss shot him in his side.
Mr. Brant stumbled away and collapsed, and his friends tried to drive him to a hospital before arriving medical personnel transferred him to an ambulance. Mr. Brant suffered fatal internal injuries, never regained consciousness, and died. Several eyewitnesses saw Mr. Moss tuck his firearm into his waistband after the shooting and flee the neighborhood. Mr. Moss was arrested the next day in Williamsburg.
On Oct. 18, 2021, a Norfolk jury found Mr. Moss guilty of second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of murder.
On Friday, Judge Jerrauld C. Jones sentenced Mr. Moss to 21 years in prison, with another seven years suspended on the conditions that Mr. Moss complete 20 years of uniform good behavior and a period of indeterminate supervised probation upon his release.
Mr. Moss is a certified Blood gang member and has a criminal history that includes a Hampton conviction of carnal knowledge of a minor from 2006, and Norfolk convictions of burglary and grand larceny from 2008.
“I would like to thank the community for coming forward, cooperating with the police, and coming to court to testify,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “We had the evidence we needed to prove the case in court, to hold Mr. Moss accountable, and to honor Mr. Brant’s memory. I hope that this sentence brings Mr. Brant’s family peace. We will continue in my office to hold accountable the people who kill in our city.”
Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Shavaughn N. Banks prosecuted Mr. Moss’ case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and retired Norfolk Police Homicide Detective William K. Cogswell Jr. served as the lead investigator.
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