Release Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 9:30 a.m.
Harvey L. Bryant, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Virginia Beach, announced today that Steven Alexander Breaux, 25 years old, formerly residing in 1200 block of Bunsen Court, Norfolk, was found guilty by a jury of two (2) counts of First Degree Murder, Attempted First Degree Murder and three (3) counts of Use of A Firearm in the Commission of a Felony. The jury recommended that Breaux be sentenced to thirty-five (35) years on each of the two counts of First Degree Murder, ten (10) years on the Attempted First Degree Murder and a total of thirteen (13) years on the charges of Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony, for a total of 93 years.
At trial the Commonwealth’s evidence proved that on January 15, 2007, Steven Breaux and a co-defendant were patrons at Ocean’s Cabaret located in the 400 block of Oceana Boulevard. After spending some time at the club, Breaux and his co-defendant began harassing an off-duty waitress. Both were asked to leave the club. Club security, patrons, and an off-duty Portsmouth sheriff’s deputy followed Breaux and his co-defendant out into the parking lot, where words were exchanged between Breaux and club security. Breaux pulled out a handgun and began shooting, striking victim Mark Vanhorn in the head, killing him. Breaux and his co-defendant then continued shooting at the crowd as they both ran toward a van parked in the lot. Victim Michael Porter was struck twice and was also killed. The sheriff’s deputy managed to retrieve his service weapon from his vehicle and identified himself as a law enforcement officer. Once the Deputy identified himself, both Breaux and his co-defendant began shooting at him from both sides of their van. After a brief exchange of gunfire, Breaux and his co-defendant then quickly fled the parking lot into a wooded area at the rear of the club where they were apprehended by the Virginia Beach Police Officers and K-9 units. Three firearms used by both Breaux and his co-defendant were recovered from the woods where Breaux and his co-defendant were hiding and were each forensically linked to the shootings in the Ocean’s Cabaret parking lot.
Breaux has previous convictions for Robbery, and 4 counts of Attempted Robbery as a juvenile. As an adult, Breaux has been convicted of Distribution of Marijuana, Concealed Weapon, Illegal Possession of Alcohol and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
Associate Commonwealth’s Attorneys Vena J. Sanders and Joseph Dinonno prosecuted the case. Please call Julie Pickell if additional information is desired.
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