NORFOLK, Va. — A man has been convicted of second-degree murder on Thursday, the Norfolk Commonwealth Attorney's Office said.
A jury found 29-year-old Javon Jerome Reap guilty of second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of second-degree murder.
On Dec. 1, 2023, Jerome walked into a 7-Eleven at 151 W Little Creek Road around 10:30 p.m. He approached 33-year-old Antwain Desean Curtis and shot him in the chest. The bullet hit Curtis' heart. According to officials, he died almost instantly. Reap left the store and drove away.
After Norfolk police identified Reap from the store's security cameras that recorded the incident from several angles, a warrant was secured. Norfolk Police obtained cell phone data that proved Reap arrived at the 7-Eleven at the time of the shooting and left the area minutes after the shooting. Pictures of Reap's vehicle were also captured by Flock surveillance cameras arriving at the store before the shooting and leaving the store after the shooting.
Prosecutors said Reap fled Virginia and went to New York, where he was later found in March 2024. In April, he was transferred in custody to Norfolk. According to officials, Reap claimed self-defense because he felt that Curtis threatened him.
Reap is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 20.
“The evidence at trial showed that Mr. Reap shot and killed Mr. Curtis for no reason, and that is murder,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “The jury has spoken and held Mr. Reap accountable for his actions, and at sentencing we will seek a sentence that reflects the serious crime that Mr. Reap has committed.”
