On August 6, 2020, a dispute at a 7-Eleven on West Little Creek Road in Norfolk, Virginia, tragically escalated, ending the life of 19-year-old Jamal M. Harvey. That afternoon, Harvey, a Black male, was one of three individuals who confronted Robert Lee Vick Jr. inside the convenience store. The verbal altercation quickly turned physical, and the entire violent exchange lasted less than a minute.
During the struggle, Vick drew a firearm and opened fire.
Harvey was struck multiple times, suffering wounds to his head and torso. He was discovered lying face down near the gas pumps outside the store and was pronounced dead at the scene. Another man involved in the confrontation, 22-year-old Keyon Raheem Johnson, was also shot and later died from his injuries at a local hospital. A third individual sustained injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Following the shooting, Norfolk Police arrested Robert Lee Vick Jr., then 22 years old. He was initially charged with two counts of second-degree murder, malicious wounding, and multiple firearm offenses, including the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Vick was held at the Norfolk City Jail without bond. In the course of the legal proceedings, Vick asserted that his actions were in self-defense.
In a turn of events in June 2022, Vick pleaded guilty to amended charges, which included two counts of voluntary manslaughter and malicious wounding. He was subsequently sentenced to serve nearly 13 years in prison. His sentence also included additional suspended time, contingent upon his adherence to supervised probation and maintaining good behavior after his release. The resolution of the case brought a close to the legal chapter of a violent incident that resulted in the deaths of two young men.
