Man Sentenced to 10 Years Following Jury Convictions of Voluntary Manslaughter, Using Firearm in 2022 Bayview Shooting
NORFOLK, Va. — Emilio Jiovanni Rodriquez-Lopez, 23, was sentenced on Friday to serve 10 years in prison after a jury convicted him of voluntary manslaughter and using a firearm in the death of 22-year-old Aaron Wayne Leach Jr. in 2022.
On the afternoon of Sept. 18, 2022, Mr. Leach was in the driver’s seat and Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez was in the front passenger seat of an SUV on Creamer Road for a drug transaction. Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez eventually opened fire on Mr. Leach inside the vehicle, and a friend of Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez who had been waiting nearby also fired into the vehicle from outside the driver’s window. Mr. Leach was struck by multiple bullets from both sides, and Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez was hit in his abdomen by friendly fire and rolled out of the vehicle as Mr. Leach attempted to drive away. Suffering from his injuries, Mr. Leach crashed into a parked car and died inside the SUV. There was no evidence of Mr. Leach being armed during the shooting.
When police arrived at the scene, Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez was inside a nearby residence nursing his wound. Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez claimed that Mr. Leach had attempted to rob him and that he shot Mr. Leach in self-defense. Based on their investigation, police charged Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez with second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of murder.
In August 2024, Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez pleaded not guilty to his charges and opted to be tried by a jury. Judge Tasha D. Scott declared a mistrial in the case after one of the jurors had a medical emergency just after deliberations began.
On Feb. 25, 2025, the Commonwealth proceeded with a second jury trial against Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez. On Feb. 26, the jury found Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez guilty of voluntary manslaughter (a lesser-included homicide charge which, under Virginia law, has a maximum penalty of 10 years to serve in prison) and using a firearm in the commission of a felony (which, by law, carries a mandatory minimum punishment of three years).
Due to his criminal history, which includes multiple juvenile felony convictions, Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez’s state sentencing guidelines recommended a sentence between three years and four months in prison and eight years and two months in prison. At his sentencing hearing on Friday, the Commonwealth argued that Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez should serve the maximum allowable 13 years in prison, and Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez’s defense counsel argued that he should serve a sentence within the guidelines.
After hearing the arguments, Judge Everett A. Martin Jr., who presided over Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez’s second jury trial, sentenced Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez to serve 10 years in prison and suspended another three years on the conditions that he complete an indeterminate period of supervised probation and 10 years of uniform good behavior following his release.
"In Norfolk, we believe in our cases and in our arguments, but we also believe in the right of juries to render verdicts and judges to use their discretion to impose sentences," said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. "Each part of the system has done its job, and Mr. Rodriguez-Lopez will serve a prison sentence. Our lawyers and staff will continue to focus our resources on holding accountable the small number of people who commit violent crimes."
Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Scott C. Vachris and Emily A. Woodley prosecuted Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez’s case, and Norfolk Police Detective Matthew M. Nordan led the investigation.
###
Feb. 27, 2025
Jury Convicts Man of Voluntary Manslaughter, Using Firearm in 2022 Bayview Shooting
NORFOLK, Va. — A jury convicted Emilio Jiovanni Rodriquez-Lopez, 23, on Wednesday of voluntary manslaughter and using a firearm in the commission of a felony after he shot and killed 22-year-old Aaron Wayne Leach Jr. in 2022.
On the afternoon of Sept. 18, 2022, Mr. Leach was in the driver’s seat and Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez was in the front passenger seat of an SUV on Creamer Road for a drug transaction. Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez eventually opened fire on Mr. Leach inside the vehicle, and a friend of Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez who had been waiting nearby also fired into the vehicle from outside the driver’s window. Mr. Leach was struck by multiple bullets from both sides, and Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez was hit in his abdomen by friendly fire and rolled out of the vehicle as Mr. Leach attempted to drive away. Suffering from his injuries, Mr. Leach crashed into a parked car and died inside the SUV. There was no evidence of Mr. Leach being armed during the shooting.
When police arrived at the scene, Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez was inside a nearby residence nursing his wound. Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez claimed that Mr. Leach had attempted to rob him and that he shot Mr. Leach in self-defense. Based on their investigation, police charged Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez with second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of murder.
In August 2024, Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez pleaded not guilty to his charges and opted to be tried by a jury. Judge Tasha D. Scott declared a mistrial in the case after one of the jurors had a medical emergency just after deliberations began.
On Tuesday, the Commonwealth proceeded with a second jury trial against Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez. On Wednesday, the jury found Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez guilty of voluntary manslaughter — a lesser-included charge of second-degree murder — and using a firearm in the commission of a felony. Judge Everett A. Martin Jr., who presided over Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez’s second jury trial, set his sentencing hearing on April 25.
“After the first jury trial mistried due to an unfortunate medical emergency, we regrouped, and we tried the case again,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “While we believe that the evidence negated any self-defense argument, we respect the jury’s verdict showing reasonable doubt on the question of self-defense and convicting Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez of manslaughter and the use of a gun. We believe in trying tough cases, and we will continue to fight in court to hold accountable the individuals who commit violence in Norfolk.”
Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Scott C. Vachris and Emily A. Woodley are prosecuting Mr. Rodriquez-Lopez’s case, and Norfolk Police Detective Matthew M. Nordan led the investigation.
###