Commonwealth's Attorney

A jury convicted a Newport News man of manslaughter after he shot a 27-year-old neighbor in 2017.

The jury found Donell Howard, 32, guilty of manslaughter and use of a firearm for shooting and killing Eric Blackshear on August 17, 2017. Howard and Blackshear were neighbors at the time and had argued over Blackshear wanting to connect with Howard’s sister. The argument led to a fist fight, a witness testified, that Howard lost.

Howard then grabbed a 12-guage shotgun, that was already placed in the apartment building stairwell. He fired at Blackshear from a few away, striking him in the torso. Blackshear died the next day. Blackshear was not armed and witnesses testified he did not regularly carry a gun.

Blackshear was a student at a local community college when he was killed and was survived by his parents and sister. Howard will be sentenced on November 14, 2025.