On a tragic evening in Portsmouth, Virginia, 22-year-old Keytondra Wilson, a female, lost her life in a harrowing sequence of events that unfolded while she was on the phone with a 911 dispatcher. The date was February 13, 2018, when Wilson found herself in a desperate situation, being pursued by her ex-boyfriend, Jarvis Deloatch. In a state of fear, she reported to the emergency operator that Deloatch was following her and brandishing a firearm.
The pursuit ended at the intersection of Portsmouth Boulevard and Des Moines Avenue, where Deloatch cornered Wilson's vehicle. He then exited his car and fired multiple shots, fatally wounding her in the upper body. The terrifying moments of the shooting were captured on the 911 recording as the dispatcher heard the gunshots and Deloatch's voice. Despite the call for help, Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two days after the incident, law enforcement located and apprehended Jarvis Deloatch in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Investigators learned that Deloatch had a history of violent offenses, including prior convictions for malicious wounding and domestic assault. Before the fatal encounter, he had reportedly visited Wilson's workplace and the home of her current boyfriend.
In February 2019, a jury convicted Jarvis Deloatch of first-degree murder for the death of Keytondra Wilson. He was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional three years. Wilson's family later filed a civil lawsuit against the City of Portsmouth, alleging negligence on the part of the 911 dispatcher for not providing adequate guidance to a safe location during the call.
