In the summer of 2023, the life of 22-year-old Nickolas Van-Jor Chinn of Heathsville, Virginia, was cut tragically short. On the evening of June 26th, deputies in Lancaster County responded to a call about a man lying in the street at the intersection of Shore Drive and Lancaster Creek Road in Morattico. There they found Chinn, who was pronounced dead at 8:29 p.m. from a fatal gunshot wound to the chest.
The investigation into the death of the young man quickly led to a suspect. Sevin Shykim Noel, a 22-year-old from Lottsburg, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting. The incident that led to Chinn's death was described as an illegal gun deal. At the scene, alongside Chinn's body, authorities discovered a pistol and counterfeit money, with more counterfeit bills found in his pocket.
During legal proceedings, Noel's defense attorney argued for bond, claiming that the shooting was an act of self-defense, stating that Chinn had made threats and produced a firearm first. However, Noel remained in custody leading up to his trial. In a turn of events, on February 15, 2024, Noel pleaded guilty to the lesser charges of voluntary manslaughter and shooting in the commission of a felony.
The court accepted a plea agreement, sentencing Noel to a total of 15 years, with five of those years suspended. The courtroom was filled with palpable grief as Nickolas's mother, Betsy Chinn, delivered a heart-wrenching victim impact statement. She recounted her last phone call with her son while she was at Walmart, and the devastating call she received moments later informing her he had been shot. '23 years in nursing I've saved so many people but I couldn't save my own son,' she shared with the court. 'You think birthing a child is painful? Try burying one.'
