NORFOLK, Va. — A man was sentenced Friday to 24 years in prison for charges related to a deadly shooting in 2021 at a Norfolk gas station.
30-year-old Breon Redus Davis was sentenced to 15 years in prison after a jury convicted him of voluntary manslaughter for the death of 27-year-old Dante Southerland, according to a news release from Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney Office. He was also sentenced to another nine years for violating his probation.
On June 18, 2021, Davis and Southerland were arguing in the parking lot of the Tinee Giant store on East Princess Anne Road. Video surveillance footage showed Davis punching Southerland repeatedly, shooting at Southerland, and chasing Southerland around the parking lot. Southerland returned fire with his gun before falling to the ground. Davis continued shooting him.
Forensics experts concluded that Davis fired 18 total shots and that Southerland fired four times after Davis began shooting.
Southerland had nine gunshot wounds and died after being taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
Davis was unhurt and fled to Georgia, but later turned himself in.
Davis claimed to Norfolk Police investigators that he shot at Southerland only after he tried to pull a gun on him and that their argument was about a road rage incident between the men from earlier in the day of the shooting.
On May 4 of this year, a Norfolk jury found Davis guilty of voluntary manslaughter. Davis pleaded guilty on July 13 to being a convicted violent felon in possession of a firearm.
Davis was sentenced to 24 years in prison and six months of post-release supervision.
