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William Chapman II

Case from Portsmouth, VA dated Apr 22, 2015

Victim Details

William L. Chapman II

Male

Black / African American

Portsmouth

VA

2015-04-22

18

William

Chapman II

07/13/2026

Case Description

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On the morning of April 22, 2015, in a Walmart parking lot in Portsmouth, Virginia, the life of 18-year-old William Chapman II, a Black male, was cut short. Chapman was shot and killed by Portsmouth Police Officer Stephen Rankin, who was responding to a report of suspected shoplifting from the store. The fatal encounter began after store security alerted police to a potential shoplifter leaving the premises.

Rankin located Chapman in the parking lot, and a confrontation ensued. Accounts o ...
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Links to Additional Sources (2)

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  • Shooting of William Chapman - Wikipedia
  • WTKR.com: Police ID 18-year-old shot by Portsmouth officer during struggle in Walmart parking lot

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    Forum Posts (3)

    I came across a poignant detail in William Chapman II's case that hasn't been highlighted much. It w... ...Read More
    12/06/2024
    I've been thinking about the role of witness testimony in William Chapman’s case and how conflicti... ...Read More
    10/28/2024
    Officer Rankin's use of force in the William Chapman case is really hard to come to terms with. Just... ...Read More
    02/01/2023
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