VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A woman was sentenced to nearly six years in prison for her role in a 2022 traffic stop that ended with Virginia Beach police shooting and killing her husband.
The sentencing comes after Jacqueline Ortiz was convicted of felony assault on a law enforcement officer, felony receiving stolen property, possessing a concealed weapon, brandishing a firearm, resisting arrest-fleeing, and possessing a firearm after domestic violence conviction charges.
The traffic stop occurred on Dec. 1, 2022, at a shopping center called Newtown Baker Crossing on Newtown Road.
According to Virginia Beach police, Ortiz and her husband, 28-year-old Deshawn Whitaker, were driving a stolen vehicle when an officer approached the car.
Dash camera footage showed a passenger in the back of the car getting out to enter a store. When the driver, identified as Whitaker, also got out of the car, the officer attempted to detain him but body-worn camera video shows Whitaker running away.
The officer then attempted to apprehend Ortiz, which led to a struggle on the ground. Prosecutors claim Ortiz tried to reach for her own gun despite commands to stop.
A short time later, Whitaker returned with a gun that he pointed at the officer who fired multiple shots at Whitaker, striking and killing him, according to body camera video.
While prosecutors argued Ortiz was aware the vehicle was stolen, the defense claimed the then 20-year-old never drove it and she was not the person responsible for stealing it.
