NORFOLK, Va. — A man who shot his friend in the head in 2021 leaving the victim with lasting mobility issues will spend 22 years in prison, the Norfolk Commonwealth Attorney's Office announced Friday.
Travarish Carpenter, 31, was sentenced for charges of aggravated malicious wounding, using a firearm in the commission of aggravated malicious wounding and being a convicted violent felon in possession of a firearm.
The charges stem from a violent fight between Carpenter and his friend, who has not been publicly identified, that broke out inside an apartment on East Little Creek and West Glen roads the evening of June 12, 2021. Carpenter was thrown out of the apartment but later returned with a gun and began arguing again with the victim, according to officials. Prosecutors say the victim shut his door on Carpenter, who then shot through it -- striking the victim once in the head.
Carpenter was not arrested until August 2021 when authorities detained him in Illinois and extradited him back to Norfolk where prosecutors say he admitted to the shooting.
In September 2023, the 31-year-old pleaded guilty to all three charges stemming from the shooting.
The victim's injuries have required several surgeries which have included removing parts of his skull. Even with these medical procedures, prosecutors say the victim has permanent motor skills and balance issues, along with paralysis on the left side of his body.
Carpenter was convicted of the same felony charge of malicious wounding in 2015 for an incident in 2015. At this time, he was on probation for a shooting in Norfolk and prohibited from having a firearm.
