A Virginia jury has recommended a sentence of 30 years in prison for a security guard who shot and killed 60-year-old Jiansheng Chen, whose family says was playing Pokemon Go at the time of the incident.
Johnathan Cromwell is guilty of second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, according to NBC News.
The jury’s recommendation arrives more than two years after the incident, which occurred on the night of Jan. 26, 2017 in Chesapeake, VA. NBC News reported that sentencing is scheduled for June 24 of this year.
“The commonwealth believes, very strongly, that justice was served today in Chesapeake,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Nancy Parr said to the Virginia Pilot.
Chen’s daughter held a framed photo of her father on his birthday after the verdict.
“In the end they’ve lost their uncle, they’ve lost someone they love — they lost their father,” family attorney Scot Flax said. “No verdict will ever bring back Mr. Chen, and that’s the hard part about any of this case.”
Cromwell’s family said they continue to support him.
“Our agenda going forward remains the same — to support Johnathan in any way we can,” his mother Kelley Henry said to the Pilot.
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