In a tragic turn of events on December 1, 2017, David R. Gonzalez, a 59-year-old man, was shot and killed in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The incident, which stemmed from a verbal dispute, ultimately led to the arrest of his roommate.
The conflict reportedly arose over rent money. Gonzalez had been forced out of the townhome he shared with Nancy M. Copeland on Westminster Lane and had returned to retrieve his rent money.
According to court documents, a witness told police that after an argument in the hallway, they saw Copeland pointing a gun at Gonzalez. A struggle for the weapon ensued, followed by a single gunshot that left Gonzalez fatally wounded.
When police arrived at the residence around 4:33 p.m., they discovered Gonzalez's body. Several individuals at the scene were detained for questioning. The investigation quickly identified 49-year-old Nancy M. Copeland as the primary suspect. She was taken into custody and subsequently charged with murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a crime. Copeland was held at the Virginia Beach Correctional Center without bond.
During the investigation, police found guns, ammunition, and narcotics in the home. Copeland's defense attorney suggested that she felt threatened during the argument, possibly by a firearm, which led to the shooting. They also pointed to a history of verbal abuse between the two roommates. However, prosecutors presented witness testimony stating that Copeland had pointed the gun with straight arms, and an autopsy report supported the claim that Gonzalez was defenseless. Following a court hearing, a judge certified the second-degree murder charge against Copeland, and the case was scheduled to go before a grand jury.
