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Portsmouth Police seek carjacking suspect

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Detectives have identified one of three men who they say pointed guns at a woman and took her phone and purse before leaving in her vehicle in a recent carjacking on Victory Boulevard, Portsmouth Police said.

The carjacking, according to police, took place around 9:45 p.m. July 12 in the 2300 block of Victory Boulevard in a Food Lion parking lot, and when officers arrived, they found the woman, who said she was there to complete a Facebook Marketplace transaction when three men wearing ski masks and pointing guns at her approached her, told her to get out of her car, took her phone and purse before leaving in her car.


Dakari Keionte White

Detectives identified one of the suspects as Dakari Keionte White, who is 5-foot-11, 145 pounds. Police said he is wanted for carjacking, robbery, unlawful use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and conspiracy to commit a felony. Police consider him armed and dangerous.

They were scary moments for the Portsmouth woman.

Imagine you come to this parking lot meeting someone you’re either buying from or selling to. Then three men with guns and masks on, tell you to get out of your car. What do you do?

“If she had noticed that something was amiss, which she may not have, but if she did, the correct answer is to just put it in drive and go — no questions asked, don’t feel guilty about it,” said Applied Defense Concepts Owner Kevin Tomas.

But, he adds, every situation is different, and in that case, she might have done the right thing. The suspects are still on the loose, but police have identified one — White.

A former bounty hunter and private investigator, Tomas now teaches self-defense. He says first off, schedule any meet-up during the day.

“Meeting in a very public area that is well-lit, and not at night, preferably with a friend or two to come along with you,” Tomas said.

And choosing a safe place to meet is critical.

“You want a populated area that you can call for help if need be,” he said. “You also want to choose a place that is neutral. You don’t want to pick your home, for example or a place that you are at, like your workplace. You don’t want to be bringing people to there because you never know if this person is casing you out for something more.”

If this had turned into an attack, things like a small knife or even a tactical flashlight could keep them at bay.

“We teach a self-defense class here where we use the flashlight and everyone is extremely surprised,” he said. “And that flashlight, without that helmet on, it’ll give you a concussion right away. And the blinding of that light also just creates a light wall you can’t see past.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Portsmouth Police Investigations Bureau at 757-393-8536 or the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.

For information on self-defense classes taught by Tomas, visit his website: https://www.applieddefenseconcepts.com/.

You can find other safety tips here: https://www.uslawshield.com/u-s-lawshield-presents-self-defense-strategies-for-national-safety-month/

And here: https://www.bluecrossvt.org/health-community/blog/listing/learn-how-defend-yourself