PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Former Portsmouth police officer Vincent McClean, 55, is accused in the shooting death of Willie Marable, who was 28 years old when he died.
Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney Stephanie Morales announced a grand jury indicted McClean on charges of voluntary manslaughter.
Charges from the grand jurors come nearly five years since the fateful encounter on Navajo Trail.
"He doesn't own a gun. I have never seen a gun in my house," said Marable's mother, Lorri Flythe in 2018. Not long after the police shooting, she spoke with 13News Now, expressing shock and confusion surrounding the story police told her.
"That's my baby, and they took him away from me," she previously said.
Officers responded to a 911 call on Navajo Trail late at night about a possible home invasion, according to Portsmouth police. When they arrived, officers recalled seeing a man and woman with a gun.
Police said the duo would not comply with orders, so an officer fired and shot the man later identified as Marable.
Flythe said in 2018: "I need to find out why the police killed my son."
Nearly five years later, she could be close to some answers after a grand jury indicted McClean.
Leading up to this point, Morales said Virginia State Police conducted an investigation. Her office received the findings, and then did a follow-up investigation of its own.
That wrapped up at the end of last year.
"And when we brought all of that together, there was a determination that we needed to present this to the grand jury," said Morales.
Morales also said she has to make sure she is acting based on facts and the law and securing all information and evidence she can.
"As far as I'm concerned, accountability is for everyone," she said, regarding whether the person is a law enforcement officer or another member of the community.
Morales also commented on what she could, regarding the span of time to reach charges in this case.
"Expedience is absolutely important to me, but what's even more important is ensuring we get this right. I have to look the community in the face. I have to look the family members who were impacted by this in the face and I have to look the accused in the face."
Morales said during an interview Thursday afternoon that she hoped the ex-officer would turn himself in.
The grand jury recommended no bond for McClean once he is in police custody, court documents showed.
Friday morning, Col. Marvin Waters, undersheriff of the Portsmouth Sheriff’s Office, told 13News Now McClean turned himself in at 3 a.m.
McClean retired from the Portsmouth Police Department in 2020, according to a spokesperson.