VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia Beach Police said they identified five suspects in connection with the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old on Osprey Street in April. The victim’s mother said they knew each other and her son died in a case of friendly fire.
“I forgive them. I don’t have hate,” Sharon Rice said Friday afternoon, four weeks after her son Joshua was killed. “This generation of kids, they’re not thinking straight.”
According to officials, just after 7 pm. April 4, officers arrived in the 400 block of Osprey Street for reports of a shooting. They found Joshua Rice, 20, suffering from a gunshot wound. Rice was pronounced dead at the scene.
Between April 7 and May 1, police identified five suspects in relation to the fatal shooting of Rice. The suspects and their charges can be found below:
- Nasir Carter, 18 — apprehended on April 30 and charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony (mugshot below)
- Ekue Dossekpli, 19 — apprehended on April 11 and charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony (mugshot below)
- Taejohn Stewart, 21 — apprehended on May 1 and charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony (mugshot below)
- Shaquita West, 29 — apprehended on April 7 and charged with concealing or destroying physical evidence of a felony offense (no mugshot found)
- Keandre Willie, 21 — apprehended on April 10 and charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of felony (mugshot below)
“They all grew up in the neighborhood together, they all went to Bayside High together,” Rice said. “[Josh] wasn’t the target. And it’s sad, because there was a target. Whether or not it was gonna be my son, it was gonna be someone else’s son.”
Rice said her son died from a bullet wound to the neck, and the target was able to drive away and escape.
“I have to forgive so I can live whatever remainder of years I have in peace,” she said.
The shooting happened about a block from where Joshua Rice lived on Harrier Street. Bradley Lefler, a neighbor on Osprey, says he saw a warning sign.
“I know a few days before the shooting happened, there were some punks sitting out here waving guns and I called the cops,” he said. “I know for a fact that all those kids are involved in it, because they were on Facebook live announcing themselves.”
On April 23, Willie was denied bond during a hearing. During the bond hearing, Willie admitted to firing his weapon, but stated he was usure if it was his bullet that struck and killed Rice.
Stewart was arraigned Friday afternoon. The five defendants will have a court date in July.
“I am incredibly proud of the investigative efforts of our officers to bring closure to Mr. Rice’s family and loved ones,” VBPD Chief Paul Neudigate said. “Our detectives led a thorough and exhaustive investigation to ensure justice was served.”