Release Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 4:30 p.m.
Harvey L. Bryant, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Virginia Beach, announced today that Jontae Lamar Suggs, 22 years old, previously residing in the 100 block of Greg Street, Chesapeake, Virginia, pleaded guilty in the Circuit Court of Virginia Beach to one count each of Malicious Wounding and Use of a Firearm. The Honorable Edward W. Hanson presided over today’s hearing. The defendant will be sentenced on August 4, 2009.
The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that on July 28, 2008, Justin Spruill was working as an unarmed security guard at Club Mystique, located on General Booth Boulevard. The defendant was with a group of people who got into a fight with security inside the club. The defendant and his friends were told to leave the club. The defendant became angry about the situation, went to his car in the parking lot and retrieved a .45 semi-automatic handgun. He then shot into the crowd of people leaving the club. Mr. Spruill was struck in the abdomen and suffered significant internal injuries. He had not been involved in the altercation inside the club. The defendant and two companions fled and were apprehended a short distance away. The gun was recovered from the glove box. The defendant ultimately admitted to firing the gun but claimed to have shot into the air only and not aimed at anyone in the crowd.
Associate Commonwealth’s Attorney Sara R. Chandler and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Charisse L. Black prosecuted the case. Please call Amanda Herman if additional information is desired.
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