Man Sentenced to More Than 25 Years for 2nd Degree Murder in 2020 Shooting, Violating Probation
NORFOLK, Va. — Malcolm Jamaal Jorden, 31, was sentenced to serve 25 years and three months in prison for shooting and killing 29-year-old Jonathan Lee Bassett in 2020 and for violating his probation from an unrelated 2014 shooting.
After midnight on Nov. 14, 2020, Mr. Jorden pistol-whipped and fatally shot Mr. Bassett inside a residence on Nicholson Street belonging to Mr. Jorden’s girlfriend. The girlfriend’s three children were present inside the apartment at the time of the shooting. On Dec. 8, 2020, the Norfolk Police Fugitive Section took Mr. Jorden into custody, and he confessed to shooting Mr. Bassett because he was under the impression that Mr. Bassett was having relations with Mr. Jorden’s then-pregnant girlfriend.
Mr. Jorden was on probation at the time of that incident for committing a shooting in 2014 and was prohibited from possessing of a firearm. In 2015, Mr. Jorden was sentenced to serve five years and nine months in prison, with seven years and three months suspended on the condition that he be of uniform good behavior for five years and complete five years of supervised probation.
On Oct. 24, 2023, Mr. Jorden agreed to plead guilty to second-degree murder and be sentenced to a maximum of 18 years in prison, and Judge Everett A. Martin Jr. accepted his plea agreement.
On Friday, Judge Martin sentenced Mr. Jorden to serve 18 years in prison for killing Mr. Bassett and suspended an additional 12 years on the conditions that Mr. Jorden be of uniform good behavior for 40 years and complete an indeterminate period of supervised probation following his release. Judge Martin also revoked and ordered that Mr. Jorden serve his previously suspended sentence of seven years and three months for his probation violation.
“The victim in this case did nothing wrong, and Mr. Jorden had no reason to murder him,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “Mr. Jorden’s misplaced jealousy cost the victim his life, and Mr. Jordan has earned his time in prison. I offer my condolences to Mr. Bassett’s family. Unfortunately, nothing we do can bring Mr. Bassett back.”
Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Shavaughn N. Banks and Michelle L. Newkirk prosecuted Mr. Jorden’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Norfolk Police Detective Christopher W. Rocchio led the investigation.
###
Oct. 25, 2023
Man Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder Following 2020 Shooting
NORFOLK, Va. – Malcolm Jamaal Jorden, 31, was convicted of second-degree murder in Norfolk Circuit Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to killing 29-year-old Jonathan Lee Bassett in 2020.
After midnight on Nov. 14, 2020, Mr. Jorden shot and pistol-whipped Mr. Bassett inside a residence on Nicholson Street belonging to Mr. Jorden’s girlfriend. The girlfriend’s three children were present inside the apartment at the time of the shooting.
On Dec. 8, 2020, the Norfolk Police Fugitive Apprehension Squad took Mr. Jorden into custody, and he confessed to shooting Mr. Bassett because he was under the impression that Mr. Bassett was having relations with Mr. Jorden’s then-pregnant girlfriend.
Mr. Jorden pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Tuesday, and Judge Everett A. Martin Jr. accepted his plea with an agreed maximum sentence of 18 years. Mr. Jorden is docketed for sentencing for this matter and for probation violations on March 1. There is no agreement on the disposition of the probation violations.
Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Shavaughn N. Banks and Michelle L. Newkirk are prosecuting Mr. Jorden’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Norfolk Police Detective Christopher W. Rocchio led the investigation.
###