Police shooting case goes to grand jury

CHESAPEAKE, Va. - A rookie Chesapeake police officer in court Wednesday morning described the chaotic moments of June 1 when he was shot five times after an abduction, police chase and shootout.

"Once the shooting stopped I noticed I was bleeding," said 26-year-old Officer Sean M. Fleming. Officer Fleming testified, along with several other witnesses, at today's preliminary hearing of two suspects in the case.

Willie Simmons, 20, and Dedrion Short, 31 were arrested after the incident and charged with six felonies each, including First Degree Murder and Attempted Capital Murder of a Police Officer.  In court all the charges were certified to the grand jury except one. The charge of Attempted Capital Murder of a Police Officer against Dedrion Short was reduced to Attempted Murder.

The incident started around 4 p.m. June 1 on East Liberty St. in Norfolk. Prosecutors say Short, Simmons and a third suspect, Christopher White drove a white van to East Liberty where they abducted Tione Vincent at gunpoint.

One prosecution witness, Edward Mullen, testified Wednesday that he was standing outside with Vincent when the van pulled around the corner and the suspects jumped out and White aimed a gun at Vincent.

"White told Tione, 'If you don't get in I'll shoot your ass,'" said Mullen. He said White grabbed Vincent by his hair and pushed him into the van.

Prosecutors say the abduction led to a police chase from Norfolk into Chesapeake and ended on George Washington Highway near the I-64 ramp  in the Deep Creek area. Police officers testified that the suspects jumped out of the van and that White started firing an assault rifle at police. Officer Fleming, who had just finished his shift, said he heard the transmission of shots fired and responded to the scene.

Officer Fleming testified he was still sitting in his Jeep when he was shot at least five times from 15 to 20 feet away.

Prosecutors say White not only shot Officer Fleming, he also shot and killed Tione Vincent in the van. Simmons and Short both ran, but were later arrested near the scene.

Both Simmons and Short claim they too were victims. The defendants say White also kidnapped them at gunpoint and forced them to help abduct Vincent.

Simmons and Short remain in jail without bond. On August 4 the judge will set a date for trial.