Armed robber guilty, may get 83 years

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - A Virginia Beach man was found guilty Friday in relation to a home invasion from May 2008 that ended in a victim being shot in the head, and another victim getting pistol whipped, according to the Commonwealth's Attorneys office.

Christopher Lee Joyner, 23, previously of the 3300 block of Pine Hill Crescent in Chesapeake was found guilty of abduction, robbery, armed statutory burglary, aggravated malicious wounding and four counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

The Commonwealth's Attorneys office for the City of Virginia Beach said that Joyner, Randell Loren Thigpen-Knight and Ephraim Lamar McCoy III broke into a home in Virginia Beach on May 7, 2008, looking for marijuana and money.

A struggle ensued between the burglars and the victims, and one of the victims was shot in the head. The other victim was dragged around the house and pistol whipped as the burglars collected money and belongings.

The victim who was shot survived, but sustained permanent brain injuries.

The shooter, Ephraim McCoy pled guilty to robbery, aggravated malicious wounding and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is set to be sentenced on May 10, 2010.

Thigpen-Knight is currently serving 24 years for similar offenses that occurred in Suffolk. He pleaded guilty to robbery, malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and is also set to be sentenced on May 10, 2010.