Trigger Warning: Domestic Violence
Jury Convicts Woman of Shooting, Killing Fellow Navy Sailor in 2024
NORFOLK, Va. — A jury convicted Nildaliz Arline Flores-Roman, 22, on June 17 of second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission murder for shooting and killing 28-year-old Petty Officer First Class Katrina Ann Anderson following an argument after a night out on Ms. Anderson’s birthday last year.
On March 15, 2024, Ms. Flores-Roman’s wife and Ms. Anderson — both of whom were in the Navy and working together on the USS Mahan — were out with friends celebrating Ms. Anderson’s birthday. Ms. Flores-Roman was also out with a different group of friends, and the two groups ended up at the same location in Downtown Norfolk. From there, around 2 a.m. on March 16, the three women returned to the Flores-Romans’s apartment in the 1700 block of East Little Creek Road. The wives began arguing in the parking lot of their apartment complex, and Ms. Flores-Roman pulled her wife’s arm to try to force her inside the apartment. Ms. Anderson intervened, and a fight between her and Ms. Flores-Roman ensued.
After the fight was over, the three women went inside the apartment, and Ms. Flores-Roman went to the bedroom to get her handgun. Ms. Flores-Roman’s wife yelled to Ms. Anderson to run, and as Ms. Anderson ran to the front door, Ms. Flores-Roman fatally shot her through her back and chest. Ms. Anderson collapsed on the sidewalk just outside the apartment, and as she lay dying, Ms. Flores-Roman hit her once on the head with the gun before tossing it and walking away. Ms. Flores-Roman’s wife called 911, and Ms. Anderson died shortly after medics and Norfolk Police arrived.
Officers arrested Ms. Flores-Roman at the scene without incident and charged her with second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of that felony. Ms. Flores-Roman’s wife informed police in a subsequent interview that they had been in an emotionally abusive marriage, which Ms. Anderson had attempted on prior occasions to counsel her through as her friend and coworker.
Ms. Flores-Roman pleaded not guilty to her charges and requested to be tried by a jury. After hearing the evidence on June 16 and 17, and deliberating for 20 minutes, the jury convicted Ms. Flores-Roman as charged. Judge Everett A. Martin Jr., who presided over the jury trial, set Ms. Flores-Roman’s sentencing hearing on Oct. 17.
“Ms. Flores-Roman shot and killed a fellow sailor for intervening in Ms. Flores-Roman’s assault of her wife,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “That is murder, and we appreciate the jury’s verdict. We express our appreciation also to the survivor of this incident, who cooperated with the police and ensured that Ms. Flores-Roman will be held accountable for the murder she committed. Our condolences go to Ms. Anderson’s family for their loss; neither she nor they deserved what they are going through. We will continue to focus the resources of our office on holding accountable the people who kill in our city.”
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Liane Galardi and Senior Assistant Emily A. Woodley are prosecuting Ms. Flores-Roman’s case, and Norfolk Police Detectives John W. Murphy III and Ryan B. Davis led the investigation.
If you and/or someone you love has fallen victim to crime — including but not limited to domestic violence — resources are available at the Norfolk Family Justice Center. For more information, please visit norfolkfjc.org, call 757-330-0376, or stop by the NFJC located at 835 Glenrock Road, Suite 100, between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. If you are in crisis, call the 24/7 hotline by dialing 757-251-0144. In an emergency, please call 911.
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