In the summer of 2025, a tragedy unfolded in Chesapeake, Virginia, cutting short the life of 27-year-old Jessica Mateo Baldoz. A daughter, friend, and mother, her vibrant personality and radiant smile were extinguished on August 6, 2025, in an act of domestic violence.
On that Wednesday night, Chesapeake police responded to a domestic violence call where they heard Jessica screaming for help.
As officers attempted to force their way into the residence, they were met with gunfire through the door, resulting in two officers being injured. Once inside, they found Jessica with gunshot wounds. She was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to her injuries.
The suspect was identified as her 39-year-old long-time boyfriend, Shaun M. Boker. Court records revealed a history of domestic abuse, with Jessica having filed three separate domestic assault charges against him in the preceding months. In one of the criminal complaints, she detailed that he had shoved, hit, and forcefully held her.
Following the shooting, Boker fled the scene, leading to a nearly 12-hour standoff with police at a location in Portsmouth. He was eventually arrested and taken to a hospital for what were described as superficial cuts to his arm. Boker faced numerous charges, including first-degree murder and attempted murder of a law enforcement officer. However, while in custody at the hospital, he experienced a medical emergency and died. Virginia State Police are investigating the circumstances of his death.
