Commonwealth's Attorney

[DECEMBER 19, 2023 – NEWPORT NEWS] —A Newport News jury deliberated less than one hour before convicting a 27 year-old man of first-degree murder following a shooting at a birthday party in Aqueduct in 2022.

De’Aundre Malique Jarrett held a birthday party on September 3, 2022, that Trinity Gay also attended at a night club. When Gay, Jarrett and others returned to Aqueduct from the club, another man was there and Jarrett began a verbal altercation with him in an attempt to start a physical fight. Jarrett punched the man in the back of the head, and as he was leaving Jarrett pulled out a gun and shot Messiah Martin in the head and back. Ms. Gay was also shot and injured during this event.

The jury also convicted Jarrett of using a firearm in committing the murder. He is facing a maximum sentence of life for the murder charge and a mandatory sentence of three years for the firearms charge.