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When a Virginia newspaper planned to have their reporter cover a fatal shooting incident in Norfolk, they were devastated to learn she was one of the victims.
Sierra Jenkins, who reported on education for The Virginian-Pilot, was one of the two victims who was shot and killed outside Chicho's Pizza Backstage next to Tidewater Community College's downtown Norfolk campus.
We are devastated to report that Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press reporter Sierra Jenkins was among the victims of an overnight shooting in downtown Norfolk. She was 24.https://www.pilotonline.com/news/crime/vp-nw-shooting-downtown-norfolk-20220319-vjyo2543jzhl3g4es6nih4icem-story.html\u00a0\u2026— The Virginian-Pilot (@The Virginian-Pilot) 1647707758
The 25-year had just celebrated her birthday on March 13.
She died at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital after the shooting.
You can watch a news report, here.
When the editor of the newspaper learned of Saturday's shooting, he tried contacting Jenkins multiple times to send her to the scene without knowing she was a victim of the violence.
Jenkins's family said she was at Chicho's with her best friend when an altercation occurred outside as the restaurant was closing around 1:30 a.m.
According to restaurant manager Rory Schindel, she was leaving the restaurant when gunshots broke out, and she was caught in the crossfire.
Jenkins grew up in Norfolk and graduated from Georgia State University.
She had interned at Atlanta Magazine and CNN before she joined The Virginian-Pilot in December 2020.
Virginian-Pilot newspaper reporter and former CNN news assistant Sierra Jenkins was among the individuals shot and killed in an early Saturday morning shooting that left one more person dead and three others injured, Norfolk, Virginia. She was 25.https://cnn.it/3Jkw4ZX— CNN (@CNN) 1647766803
Kris Worrell, editor-in-chief of Virginia Media, which operates the Virginian-Pilot and several other newspapers, said:
"Sierra was a bright and talented woman with so much going for her. Her passion for journalism was undeniable and our community is better because of her reporting."
"Sierra was funny and energetic and full of enthusiasm. We are absolutely heartbroken."
I am heartbroken for your loss. I wish I knew how we could put an end to the senseless gun violence that continues to rob our communities of so many of our best and brightest.— Noah Holland (@Noah Holland) 1647747540
I am absolutely devastated by this. Some folks on the @vbschools team spoke to her yesterday and honestly got off the call in better moods because of how contagious her smile and positivity was. She was a great reporter, full of potential & had so much more to give. #senseless— Natalie Allen (@Natalie Allen) 1647717603
Demmi Nimer, a close friend who was with Jenkins when the shots were fired, said she was "devastated."
"I was with her when everything happened and just wish I could've done more to help her," she said.
I'm so sorry for everyone who loved her and for all whose lives were touched by her. #senseless \n\nPlease vote for common sense gun laws.— LdB (@LdB) 1647728109
That's really sad. It seems like everything that happens in this country involves the use of a gun. Nobody deserves to die like that. Period!— Keith (@Keith) 1647732839
The other victim was 25-year-old Devon Harris, a Portsmouth resident who was pronounced dead at the scene.
A press release reported another woman sustained life-threatening injuries. Two other men suffered gunshot wounds that were not life-threatening.
No arrests were made in the tragic incident.
This was one of four shooting incidents in local cities last night. I know there\u2019s a war in Ukraine, but there\u2019s a war in this country, too. It\u2019s heartbreaking, and we need to do better.— SuzanneSays vaxxed and masked (@SuzanneSays vaxxed and masked) 1647717374
America just can\u2019t give up its gun fetish. The same people who scream all lives matter literally love their guns more than other peoples\u2019 lives.— Tee \u2744\ufe0f\ud83c\udf0a (@Tee \u2744\ufe0f\ud83c\udf0a) 1647716110
These gun deaths are atrocious. The young are victims of this idiocy. When will the adults stand up and do the right thing.— Angela Sheldon (@Angela Sheldon) 1647788671
Close friends and family attended a vigil held for Jenkins at Granby High School in Norfolk Sunday night.
Some statewide leaders offered their condolences, including Governor Glenn Youngkin, who tweeted:
"Our hearts are breaking for the lives lost in Norfolk, including Sierra Jenkins."
"The First Lady and I are praying for their families, friends, and the Virginian-Pilot community."
Our hearts are breaking for the lives lost in Norfolk, including Sierra Jenkins. \n\nThe First Lady and I are praying for their families, friends, and the Virginian-Pilot community.https://www.pilotonline.com/news/crime/vp-nw-shooting-downtown-norfolk-20220319-vjyo2543jzhl3g4es6nih4icem-story.html\u00a0\u2026— Governor Glenn Youngkin (@Governor Glenn Youngkin) 1647721210
The Virginian-Pilot reported at least 15 people had been shot—four of whom died—from Friday evening to Saturday afternoon in an area spanning from Newport News to Chesapeake and Suffolk.
According to the New York Times, the deadly incident in Norfolk was one of nine mass shootings in the U.S. over the weekend–indicating a disturbing trend in gun violence that has surged since the COVID-19 pandemic began two years ago.
A mass shooting is defined as an event in which at least four people are shot.
On Saturday, one occurred at an annual car show in Dumas, Arkansas, that killed one person and injured 27–making it the largest mass shooting incident in state history.
Another shooting broke out in Austin, Texas in which four people suffered gunshot wounds during the final weekend of the SXSW festival.