PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — A special prosecutor will try the case of an armed burglary suspect who was shot by a Portsmouth police officer in October of 2017.
Deontrace Ward, 18, faces armed burglary, larceny and gun charges.
Portsmouth Officer Jeremy Durocher shot Ward after responding to a burglary call in October on Tatem Avenue. Court documents obtained by 10 On Your Side show Ward had a gun.
Bodycam video showed the moment Ward was shot.
Portsmouth Judge James Hawks on Tuesday granted a motion from Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Morales to get a special prosecutor. Morales is part of the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
A prosecutor from Suffolk will try the case in mid-June.
