Jiansheng Chen, a 60-year-old Chinese immigrant, was fatally shot on the night of January 26, 2017, in Chesapeake, Virginia. Chen, a grandfather who spoke little English, had been playing the augmented reality game 'Pokémon Go' in his minivan in the parking lot of the River Walk community clubhouse. It was a way for him to connect with his grandchildren and other relatives.
That evening, a security guard named Johnathan Cromwell, who was 21 years old at the time, confronted Chen.
An altercation ensued, leading Cromwell to fire his weapon ten times at Chen's minivan. Five of the bullets struck Chen, one in his left upper arm and four in his upper left chest, resulting in his death at the scene. The shooting occurred as Chen was attempting to back up and turn his vehicle around to leave the clubhouse's driveway entrance.
Cromwell, an employee of Citywide Protection Services, claimed he acted in self-defense, stating that Chen had tried to run him over with his van. However, prosecutors presented evidence that challenged this claim, pointing out that broken glass from the van's windows was found underneath the vehicle, suggesting it was stationary when the shots were fired through the front windshield and driver's side window. The River Walk Community Association's contract with the security company was for unarmed patrol services, raising questions about why Cromwell was armed.
On February 16, 2017, Johnathan Cromwell was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He was denied bond. During his trial in March 2019, a jury found Cromwell guilty of both charges. Three months later, in June 2019, a judge sentenced him to 30 years in prison. Following the criminal proceedings, Jiansheng Chen's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Cromwell, his employer, and the community association.
