On the evening of New Year's Eve 2017, Caroline M. Hendrix, a 50-year-old female, was shot and killed in a tragic case of mistaken identity in Norfolk, Virginia. A beloved pre-K teacher at Oceanair Elementary School for 25 years, Hendrix was found inside a vehicle in the 300 block of Virginian Drive suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. First responders rushed her to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries a short time later.
The initial investigation left the community in shock and searching for answers as to why a dedicated educator would be the target of such violence.
The investigation soon unraveled a complex murder-for-hire plot born from a love triangle. Detectives determined that Hendrix was not the intended victim. The actual target was her friend, Alex Novak. The plot was orchestrated by Teniqu R. Cushman, Novak's 24-year-old ex-girlfriend, who sought revenge against him. Cushman enlisted the help of her 72-year-old former lover, Edward A. Shaw of Sevier, Utah, to carry out the attack. Cushman provided Shaw with information to find and harm Novak. On the night of the shooting, Hendrix was at Novak's home and was sitting in his car when Shaw approached and opened fire, believing her to be the intended target.
Immediately after Shaw shot Hendrix, Novak, who was in a nearby garage, emerged and shot Shaw in an attempt to defend her. Shaw fled the scene and was later found by Chesapeake police in his car, suffering from gunshot wounds. He initially fabricated a story, telling authorities he was the victim of a road rage incident on the interstate. However, investigators found no evidence to support his claim, and the pieces of the true events began to fall into place. On January 2, 2018, Edward Shaw was charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Shortly after, Teniqu Cushman was arrested and charged with one count of conspiracy to commit second-degree murder.
Facing the evidence against them, both conspirators eventually pleaded guilty. Teniqu Cushman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and agreed to testify against Shaw. She was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison for her role in planning the murder. Edward Shaw pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. In March 2020, he was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the senseless killing of Caroline Hendrix, bringing a close to a case that tragically cut short the life of an innocent and respected member of the Norfolk community.
