VIRGINIA BEACH — A 25-year-old local man shot a woman to death in 2017.
Richard Jerome Gregory Jr. was found guilty Tuesday of second-degree murder and use of a firearm. The jury verdict came after a five-day trial.
The jury “fixed his punishment at 21 years in prison,” according to a news release from the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
Gregory, formerly of 1100 block of Clydesdale Lane, will be sentenced on Nov. 14. He has two prior convictions for possession of marijuana.
It all started with what prosecutors say was a drug transaction on May 8, 2017. The victim, Erica Alford, and Gregory planned to meet for that deal.
Alford, driving her Honda Civic, picked up a friend on the way to meet Gregory. The friend sat in the backseat, according to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
At Gregory’s direction, the group drove to the Mayfair Apartments in the 5800 block Newtown Arch.. Gregory left the car with a “lunch bag” in his hand, then returned a few minutes later, sat back into the passenger seat, and asked, “Where is it?”
Alford, still seated in the driver’s seat, replied, “I don’t have it on me,” according to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
Gregory then pulled out a gun and started firing at Alford.
Alford fired back, striking Gregory in the hand and leg. She died at the scene.
Alford’s friend, jumped out of the backseat and ran to a nearby 7-Eleven and called 911.
Gregory fled and “limped to various apartments leaving a trail of blood.”
Prosecutors said the incident was caught on Mayfair’s surveillance camera – Gregory was seen limping away from the scene carrying a lunch bag and “a black object” in his hand.
