Citywide Protection Services

Jiansheng Chen
Born	Template:Birth year and age
Died	January 26, 2017(2017-01-26) (aged 60–61) Chesapeake, Virginia, United States
Occupation	Grandfather

Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox news event Template:Infobox Chinese

River Walk clubhouse located in Chesapeake, Virginia. The shooting occurred near the driveway entrance of the clubhouse parking area.

Jiansheng Chen, a 60-year-old grandfather, was fatally shot by a security officer in Chesapeake, Virginia on the evening of January 26, 2017. Chen was a Chinese immigrant with limited English proficiency. At the time, he was engaged in playing the augmented reality mobile game Pokémon Go inside a minivan parked at the community clubhouse lot when security guard Johnathan Cromwell discharged his firearm ten times, striking Chen five times.

On February 16, 2017, Cromwell faced charges of second-degree murder and was later sentenced to three decades behind bars on June 24, 2019.

Aftermath

A notification distributed to residents within the River Walk community clarified that their patrol service contract specified unarmed security personnel.

Following the incident, the River Walk Community Association initially suspended and subsequently terminated its agreement with Citywide Protection Services, the company responsible for providing the security guard.

On February 6, 2017, Andrew M. Sacks, attorney for Citywide Protection Services—the employer of the guard who shot Chen—held a press conference. Sacks stated that Chen had allegedly attempted multiple times to strike the security guard with his blue minivan; consequently, the guard fired his weapon out of "reasonable fear for his life and safety." Evidence also indicated that Chen had been present at that location ten days prior and had been warned about trespassing on private property with instructions not to return. During this event outside Sacks’ office in downtown Norfolk, Virginia, over sixty individuals gathered to protest in support of Chen.

Reports indicated that Chen engaged with Pokémon Go as a means to connect with his extended family members including nieces, nephews, grand-nephews and grand-nieces. Greg Sandler, representing Chen’s family legally, confirmed that Chen was playing Pokémon Go when he was shot. Authorities reported that the security guard discharged his firearm through multiple windows of the van. Shots were fired through the side window before the guard moved to the front and fired through the windshield.

On February 14, 2017, Representatives Donald McEachin (VA-04), Bobby Scott (VA-03), and Grace Meng (NY-06) released a joint statement regarding Jiansheng Chen's death. They emphasized the need to understand how participation in a game like Pokémon Go escalated into a deadly shooting incident.

Legal proceedings

Memorial dedicated to Jiansheng Chen near the River Walk clubhouse

On February 16, 2017, according to a statement released by Commonwealth's Attorney Nancy Parr, Johnathan Cromwell, a 21-year-old security guard from Virginia Beach, was formally charged with second-degree murder and firearm use. The statement detailed that on January 26, 2017, at approximately 11:00 p.m., Chen's van entered the parking lot of the River Walk clubhouse. Cromwell confronted Chen by positioning his vehicle directly in front of Chen’s van. Chen then reversed and turned his vehicle around until it was located at the driveway entrance facing River Walk Parkway when shots were fired. Cromwell exited his vehicle and commanded "stop" prior to discharging his weapon. Chen sustained gunshot wounds primarily to his upper body, including one entry wound in the left upper arm and four in the upper left chest area.

Cromwell surrendered himself on the afternoon of February 16, 2017. During a bond hearing held on February 27, Judge Stephen Telfeyan denied Cromwell’s request for bond.

The lawsuit revealed that Cromwell had a documented history of aggressive behavior, having previously drawn and aimed his weapon at unarmed residents and guests within the River Walk community. His conduct frequently exceeded his professional responsibilities and involved excessive force, which led to his dismissal by a former employer.

In July 2017, the charge against Cromwell was elevated from second-degree murder to first-degree murder. After changing legal representation, Cromwell was granted a six-month postponement from the initial trial date set for September 26, 2017. The trial was then anticipated to commence on March 8, 2018, with an expected duration of five days.

Court documents dated June 29, 2018, indicated that the jury trial was scheduled for February 19, 2019. During testimony on February 21, 2019, a homicide detective involved in the investigation stated that Cromwell wished to show a video demonstrating his shooting qualification; however, the detective declined to view it. Cromwell subsequently inquired about the accuracy of his shots fired at Chen by asking, "How was my grouping?" Throughout the trial, Cromwell appeared wearing headphones daily due to hearing difficulties believed to be caused by repeated exposure to gunfire.

On March 1, 2019, the jury found Johnathan Cromwell, then aged 23, guilty of second-degree murder and using a firearm during the commission of murder. On June 24, 2019, he received a prison sentence of 30 years. Cromwell’s defense team announced plans to appeal the verdict.

Additionally, Chen’s family initiated a wrongful death lawsuit seeking $5.35 million in damages against Cromwell, his employer Citywide Protection Services, and the River Walk Community Association in Virginia Beach Circuit Court.