NORFOLK, Va. — A man pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted malicious wounding on Monday stemming from an incident outside a 7-Eleven in Norfolk where he agreed to buy shoes from two women via Facebook, officials said.
In January 2021, 26-year-old Jerrod Wright had sent a Facebook message to the victims, offering to meet up with them to buy a pair of shoes they had listed for sale online, according to a news release from Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney's Office.
During the exchange outside the convenience store along Granby Street, officials say Wright tried multiple times to pay for the shoes through a payment app on his phone, but it failed.
Following multiple failed attempts, the victim tried to abandon the sale and get in a car to leave. When the two women started to drive off, Wright fired a single shot toward them, striking the driver-side door.
No one was injured.
Wright was later arrested at his home where authorities recovered the firearm used in the incident.
“Short tempers and guns do not mix. We are fortunate that Mr. Wright missed the victims, but that does not change the fear that they felt,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “Mr. Wright had no reason to shoot at these victims, and had he controlled his temper, he would not have been charged with felonies or face prison time. We will continue to hold accountable those people who shoot at our citizens.”
