Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Voluntary Manslaughter From 2021 Shooting

NORFOLK, Va. – Markell Tyree Scott, 21, was sentenced on Friday to serve eight years in prison after he pleaded guilty to the voluntary manslaughter of 31-year-old Eddie Moet Jenkins in 2021.

Around 1 a.m. on March 17, 2021, Mr. Scott and co-defendant Curtis Eugene Copeland Jr. were inside a home in the 600 block of Wiley Drive with Mr. Jenkins and others. An argument ensued between Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Scott after Mr. Jenkins told all the visitors to leave and displayed a firearm. The argument turned physical between the two, and Mr. Copeland interjected himself in the fight. Mr. Copeland and Mr. Scott produced their firearms, Mr. Copeland shot Mr. Jenkins multiple times, and Mr. Scott shot Mr. Jenkins after Mr. Copeland began shooting.

Mr. Jenkins died at the scene from gunshot wounds to his head, torso, and leg. Norfolk Police investigators determined that Mr. Jenkins was armed but did not fire his weapon, and both defendants were arrested later that day.

In August 2023, Mr. Copeland pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and agreed to serve a sentence of 13 years in prison.

On Feb. 1, Mr. Scott pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in an agreement that left Mr. Scott’s sentence up to the judge but limited the active portion of the sentence to no more than eight years. On Friday, Judge Robert B. Rigney accepted that plea agreement and, after hearing the arguments from the prosecution and defense, imposed an active prison sentence of eight years with another two years suspended on the condition that Mr. Scott be of good behavior and complete an active term of supervised probation.

“Mr. Copleand and Mr. Scott had no right to shoot Mr. Jenkins, and they have each pleaded guilty and accepted sentences that reflect their relative guilt in this crime,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “I grieve for Mr. Jenkins’s family and hope that this sentence will give them some comfort and closure as they grieve for their loved one.”

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Shavaughn N. Banks and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Melinda F. Seemar prosecuted Mr. Scott’s and Mr. Copeland’s cases on behalf of the Commonwealth, and former Norfolk Police Detective Matthew J. Walsh led the investigation.

###

Aug. 11, 2023

Norfolk Man Pleads Guilty to 2021 Murder, Sentenced to 13 Years

NORFOLK, Va. – Today, 22-year-old Curtis E. Copeland Jr. pleaded guilty to and agreed to serve an active 13 years in prison for the second-degree murder of 31-year-old Eddie Moet Jenkins.

Just before 1 a.m. on March 17, 2021, Norfolk Police responded to a report of a gunshot victim at a home in the 600 block of Wiley Drive and found Mr. Jenkins dead from bullet wounds to his head, torso, and leg. A witness identified Mr. Copeland as one of multiple shooters. The police investigation determined that Mr. Jenkins was armed with a handgun at the time of the shooting but that Mr. Copeland, and not the victim, was the aggressor. Officers arrested Mr. Copeland later that day.

In what was initially scheduled to be his pre-jury trial hearing on Friday, Mr. Copeland pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Norfolk Circuit Court, and Judge Robert B. Rigney accepted his plea. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Judge Rigney sentenced Mr. Copeland to 13 active years in prison, with another nine years suspended on the conditions that Mr. Copeland not have any contact with Mr. Jenkins’ family or any witnesses and that he complete 10 years of uniform good behavior and 5 years of supervised probation.

“Contrary to what some people think, just because a person involved in an argument is armed does not give others a license to kill,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “Mr. Copeland had no legal excuse for shooting the victim, and his plea holds him accountable for this murder. My condolences go to Mr. Jenkins and his family.”

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Shavaughn N. Banks and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Melinda F. Seemar prosecuted Mr. Copeland’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth.

###