On the early morning of March 16, 2019, the life of 66-year-old Wilbur Giles, a Black/African American male, was tragically cut short in a violent encounter within a Portsmouth, Virginia apartment. Giles, a resident of Portsmouth and a retired Norfolk Naval Shipyard worker of over 40 years, was found deceased alongside his 34-year-old stepdaughter, Chiquita Giles. Both had suffered fatal gunshot wounds to their upper bodies.
The discovery was made by police officers who were dispatched to the 3600 block of Gateway Drive shortly after 12:30 a.m. for a potential domestic assault.
Upon their arrival at the apartment, officers were forced to make entry. Inside, they first located the unresponsive body of Chiquita Giles in a bedroom. Further investigation led them to another bedroom door that was barricaded. After gaining access to the room, they found Wilbur Giles, also unresponsive. The subsequent autopsies confirmed that both individuals had died as a result of gunshot wounds to the torso.
The investigation quickly zeroed in on a suspect, Sheldon Marcus Porter, who was identified as Chiquita's brother. Warrants were issued for his arrest, and Porter, who was 36 years old at the time, turned himself in to the Portsmouth police. He was subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a non-violent felon.
After a three-day jury trial, Sheldon Porter was found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of the use of a firearm in the commission of murder. He was also convicted on the charge of possession of a firearm by a felon. The jury recommended a substantial sentence for his crimes: 40 years for the murder of Wilbur Giles, another 40 years for the murder of Chiquita Giles, and additional time for the firearm charges, resulting in a total recommended sentence of 93 years, which the defendant accepted.
