Man accused of cutting in line killed

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Norfolk Police have released new information on a deadly shooting inside a local pharmacy Thursday afternoon.

Karen Parker-Chesson with the Norfolk Police Department said officers first received the call for a shooting inside the Rite Aid located in the 3600 block of Tidewater Drive at 2:05 p.m. Wednesday, officers released information that two men got into an argument inside the store and shot each other.

One of the men died.

Parker-Chesson has identified the victim as Ramon P. Colorado, Jr., 42, of Norfolk. Colorado was an outspoken Norfolk citizen who owned the Facebook page “Norfolk Dirt.”  He described the page as “news for the common people.”

Colorado also frequented local protests and events held by activists and videotaped his experiences .

"People felt like they knew him because he spoke what was on his mind," said James Taylor, a friend of Colorado who helps run the 'Norfolk Dirt' Facebook page. "Whether you hated him or liked him, he was kind of like a radio talk show host on Facebook. You listened or read just to hate him or like him."

Colorado worked as a deputy with the Norfolk Sheriff's Office and an auxiliary deputy with the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office, according to a spokesperson with the Norfolk Sheriff's Office. The spokesperson says he was terminated from both positions.

According to police, Colorado approached the pharmacy counter in the Rite Aid and stood behind a customer. The suspect, identified as Bernell Duvall Benn, 41, of Norfolk was talking on a cell phone and accused Colorado of jumping ahead in line.

"I said 'Excuse me, sir. I'm in line to get my blood pressure medicine.'" said Benn, explaining what he said to Colorado. "He [Colorado] said, 'Im in line too, bro.'"

Watch WAVY.com's full jailhouse interview with Benn.

Both Colorado and Benn exchanged words, at which time Colorado sprayed Benn with pepper spray, Parker-Chesson said.

"I got it directly in the pupils," said Benn, motioning toward his eyes and imitating the sound of the spray. "But I thought he was going to stop. He got behind me and kept spraying."

Benn said he tried to avoid the confrontation, but heard Colorado yelling to him from one of the aisles.

"I heard a man holler out 'Come on, bro! I got some more for you, bro,'" said Benn. "And I'm like why is this man in Rite Aid hollering?"

Benn says at that point he flashed his gun, but had no intention of using it. What he saw, or thought he saw, changed his mind.

"When I turn the corner, hes there," said Benn. "So when I see him, I'm looking and I sees something in his hand. It don't look like that pepper spray. So I say 'Sir, put that gun down, sir.' The gentleman we are talking about spun around and proceeded to fire at me. When he proceeded to fire at me, I fired back."

Police say Benn was the first on to pull the trigger, not Colorado.

Police say Colorado drew his own gun, returned fire, and then collapsed. Both men suffered gunshot wounds and were transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

Colorado, who suffered life-threatening injuries, was pronounced dead at the hospital. Benn suffered non-life threatening injuries and was treated and released.

"I was scared to death and now I'm in jail for murder!" said Benn.

Benn has been charged with murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is being held without bond. WAVY.com found Benn's criminal record includes misdemeanor disorderly conduct and traffic violations.