Man Sentenced to More Than 2 Years for Carrying Concealed Gun, Brandishing at Drivers Near Intersection Before Tossing Gun Onto School Property

NORFOLK, Va. — Keonte Jamal Whitfield, 25, was sentenced on Friday to serve two years and 10 months in prison following his guilty pleas to felony possession of a firearm on school property and several misdemeanors after he walked around pointing his gun at drivers on a major thoroughfare earlier this year, ran away from arriving police officers, and discarded the gun onto a school property.

On the afternoon of June 12, a Norfolk Sheriff’s deputy drove past a man who had been walking near the intersection of Tidewater Drive and Virginia Beach Boulevard, and the deputy saw the man pull a gun from his waistband and begin pointing it at drivers. The deputy put out an alert to nearby officers, who saw Mr. Whitfield running down Virginia Beach Boulevard toward Booker T. Washington High School. Officers gave chase, and Mr. Whitfield attempted to discard the gun in a trash can on the school football field while he ran. Mr. Whitfield was arrested after the brief pursuit, and officers recovered the gun from beside the trash can where Mr. Whitfield had thrown it.

On Sept. 12, Mr. Whitfield entered an agreement to plead guilty to felony possession of a firearm on school property and misdemeanor brandishing, carrying of a concealed firearm, and fleeing from law enforcement. In exchange for Mr. Whitfield’s guilty pleas, the Commonwealth agreed to dismiss an additional misdemeanor charge, to not indict Mr. Whitfield for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and to suggest at sentencing (without limiting what the judge could impose) an active period of incarceration no longer than one year and 11 months in prison. Judge Mary Jane Hall accepted Mr. Whitfield’s plea agreement and found him guilty.

On Friday, after hearing arguments from the prosecution and defense, Judge Hall sentenced Mr. Whitfield to serve two years and 10 months in prison and suspended another two years and two months in prison on the felony charge and 24 months in jail on the misdemeanor charges on the conditions that Mr. Whitfield comply with supervised probation and be of uniform good behavior for three years following his release.

“Pointing a gun at someone is serious business, and Mr. Whitfield’s conduct earned him the prison sentence that he will now serve,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “If Mr. Whitfield had done more than that, he would have faced much more serious charges and much more time. We will continue to focus our resources on prosecuting the people who use guns to threaten and harm our community.”

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Adam L. LaFon prosecuted Mr. Whitfield’s case, and Norfolk Police Office Martin Powers led the investigation.

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Sept. 12, 2024

Man Pleads Guilty to Carrying Concealed Gun, Brandishing at Drivers Before Tossing Gun Onto School Property While Running From Officers

NORFOLK, Va.  — Keonte Jamal Whitfield, 25, pleaded guilty on Thursday to felony possession of a firearm on school property as well as misdemeanor brandishing, carrying of a concealed firearm, and fleeing from law enforcement, after he walked around pointing his gun at drivers on a major thoroughfare earlier this year and discarded the gun onto a school property while running away from arriving police officers.

On the afternoon of June 12, a Norfolk Sheriff’s deputy drove past a man who had been walking near the intersection of Tidewater Drive and Virginia Beach Boulevard, and the deputy saw the man pull a gun from his waistband and begin pointing it at drivers. The deputy put out an alert to nearby officers, who saw Mr. Whitfield running down Virginia Beach Boulevard toward Booker T. Washington High School. Officers gave chase, and Mr. Whitfield attempted to discard the gun in a trash can on the school football field while he ran. Mr. Whitfield was arrested after the brief pursuit, and officers recovered the gun from beside the trash can where Mr. Whitfield had thrown it.

On Thursday, Mr. Whitfield entered an agreement to plead guilty to the one felony and three misdemeanor charges and be sentenced by the deciding judge to serve up to one year and 11 months in prison, which is the mid-point of his suggested sentencing guidelines. Judge Mary Jane Hall accepted Mr. Whitfield’s plea agreement and set his sentencing hearing on Nov. 15.

“All gun owners must be responsible gun owners,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “While it is legal to carry a gun openly, it is a crime to conceal a gun without a permit, to menace other people with it, and to take it on to school grounds. What Mr. Whitfield did was dangerous and wrong. He has now lost his gun rights and faces the probability of going to prison.” 

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Adam L. LaFon is prosecuting Mr. Whitfield’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Norfolk Police Office Martin Powers led the investigation.

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