Man Sentenced to 22 Years for Aggravated Malicious Wounding After Shooting Friend in His Head in 2021

NORFOLK, Va. – On Friday, 31-year-old Travarish Depree Carpenter was sentenced in Norfolk Circuit Court to 22 years in prison for aggravated malicious wounding, using a firearm in the commission of aggravated malicious wounding, and being a convicted violent felon in possession of a firearm, after Mr. Carpenter pleaded guilty to shooting his friend in the head following an argument in 2021.

On the evening of June 12, 2021, Mr. Carpenter, the victim, and others were inside an apartment on the 300 block of East Little Creek Road. Mr. Carpenter and the victim began arguing and engaged in a fist fight, and Mr. Carpenter was thrown out of the residence. About 45 minutes later, Mr. Carpenter returned with a gun and banged on the front door. The victim answered the door, the two began arguing again, and Mr. Carpenter pointed his gun at the victim. The victim shut the door, but Mr. Carpenter shot through it, and a bullet struck the victim in his head. The others inside the apartment witnessed the shooting and were unharmed.

The victim underwent several surgeries to treat his injuries — including having parts of his skull removed — and will experience permanent motor skills, balance issues, and paralysis on his left side due to Mr. Carpenter’s actions.

Mr. Carpenter has a 2015 felony conviction from Chesapeake of malicious wounding — for which he was on probation at the time of the Norfolk shooting — and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Norfolk Police secured warrants for Mr. Carpenter’s arrest, and, in August 2021, Mr. Carpenter was detained by police in Bloomington, Illinois. After being extradited back to Norfolk, Mr. Carpenter confessed to shooting the victim.

Mr. Carpenter pleaded guilty to his charges on Sept. 19, 2023, with a sentencing cap of just under 25 years as part of his agreement, and Judge David W. Lannetti accepted his plea.

On Dec. 1, Judge Lannetti sentenced Mr. Carpenter to 48 years in prison, with all but 22 years suspended on the conditions that Mr. Carpenter complete 10 years of uniform good behavior and an indeterminate period of supervised probation.

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Gordon C. Ufkes prosecuted Mr. Carpenter’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Norfolk Police Detectives Kyle G. Ferree and Nathan R. Banks led the investigation.

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Sept. 19, 2023

Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Malicious Wounding After Shooting Another Man in His Head in 2021

NORFOLK, Va. – On Tuesday, 31-year-old Travarish Depree Carpenter was convicted in Norfolk Circuit Court of aggravated malicious wounding, using of a firearm in the commission of aggravated malicious wounding, and being a convicted violent felon in possession of a firearm after pleading guilty to those charges stemming from a 2021 incident in which Mr. Carpenter shot another man in the head.

On the evening of June 12, 2021, Mr. Carpenter, the victim, and others were inside an apartment on the 300 block of East Little Creek Road. Mr. Carpenter and the victim began arguing, and Mr. Carpenter was thrown out of the residence. About 45 minutes later, Mr. Carpenter returned and proceeded to bang on the front door. The victim answered the door, the two began arguing again, and Mr. Carpenter pointed a gun at the victim. The victim shut the door, but Mr. Carpenter shot through it, and a bullet struck the victim in his head. The others inside the apartment witnessed the shooting and were unharmed.

The victim has undergone several surgeries to treat his injuries, he required skin grafting for his scalp, and he continues to suffer motor skills, balance issues, and partial paralysis on his left side due to Mr. Carpenter’s actions.

Mr. Carpenter has a 2015 felony conviction from Chesapeake of malicious wounding — for which he was on probation at the time of the Norfolk shooting and for which he remains on probation — and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Norfolk Police secured warrants for Mr. Carpenter’s arrest, and, in August 2021, Mr. Carpenter was detained by police in Bloomington, Illinois. After being extradited back to Norfolk, Mr. Carpenter confessed to shooting the victim.

Mr. Carpenter pleaded guilty to his charges on Tuesday, with a sentencing cap of just under 25 years as part of his agreement, and Judge David W. Lannetti accepted his plea. Mr. Carpenter is docketed for sentencing on Dec. 1.

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Gordon C. Ufkes is prosecuting Mr. Carpenter’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Norfolk Police Detectives Kyle G. Ferree and Nathan R. Banks served as investigators.

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