voiceofreason
Senior News Editor since 2011
https://pilotonline.com/news/local/crime/article_5760e4b0-8187-11e9-a117-635b0a96c5f4.html
Suffolk man claimed he was aiming at a bear when he shot his boyfriend. Now he's charged with assault.
May 29, 2019
He was trying to shoot a bear he saw in the Great Dismal Swamp Refuge, he told police. But his boyfriend got in the way and took the bullet.
When pressed by investigators, however, his story started to fall apart.
There was no bear.
Maurice Devonte Lee, 26, of Suffolk was arrested Tuesday on one count of assault with intent to commit murder. A preliminary hearing and detention hearing are set for Friday in U.S. District Court in Norfolk.
If convicted, Lee faces the possibility of 20 years in federal prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Yusi declined to comment on the case, as did Lee's attorney, Assistant U.S. Public Defender Keith Kimball.
According to court documents, Lee reported the shooting about 2:45 p.m. May 12. It happened near the intersection of Jericho Ditch and Lynn Ditch roads, inside the refuge.
Suffolk police officers who responded to the call found Lee standing over his boyfriend, who is identified the documents only by the initials M.J.
The victim was laying face down with a gym bag supporting his head and a jacket on his back covering a single bullet hole. Medics arrived and took the victim to an area hospital for treatment.
He survived.
In interviews with police and the FBI, Lee said he was walking on the trail with his boyfriend when they saw a black bear. He said the victim started running toward him with the bear behind him.
Lee said he tried to shoot the bear with a 9mm handgun, but accidentally hit the victim, documents said.
Before calling 911, Lee called his mother, documents said.
The story quickly started to unravel. The documents said Suffolk police went to the hospital and spoke with the boyfriend.
The victim said he and Lee had been in an on-again-off-again relationship for a while, and that Lee had sometimes been abusive towards him, documents said. He said he traveled down from Pennsylvania earlier in the week to gather some belongings and visit with Lee. The victim was scheduled to return to Pennsylvania the day of the shooting.
The victim said Lee suggested they have a picnic in the refuge and that he agreed. While they walked around, Lee repeatedly said there were black bears in the area, according to the documents.
After walking for awhile, the victim asked Lee if they could leave. The victim said Lee responded by shooting him one time in the upper left chest area, documents said.
"When victim fell to the ground, Lee stated flatly 'there was a bear,' " FBI Special Agent Jason Collins wrote in court documents.
The victim said he saw Lee walk away and talk on his phone after the shooting. After one call, the victim said, Lee walked over to him, looked down and said, "Oh, you're still breathing."
Suffolk man claimed he was aiming at a bear when he shot his boyfriend. Now he's charged with assault.
May 29, 2019
He was trying to shoot a bear he saw in the Great Dismal Swamp Refuge, he told police. But his boyfriend got in the way and took the bullet.
When pressed by investigators, however, his story started to fall apart.
There was no bear.
Maurice Devonte Lee, 26, of Suffolk was arrested Tuesday on one count of assault with intent to commit murder. A preliminary hearing and detention hearing are set for Friday in U.S. District Court in Norfolk.
If convicted, Lee faces the possibility of 20 years in federal prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Yusi declined to comment on the case, as did Lee's attorney, Assistant U.S. Public Defender Keith Kimball.
According to court documents, Lee reported the shooting about 2:45 p.m. May 12. It happened near the intersection of Jericho Ditch and Lynn Ditch roads, inside the refuge.
Suffolk police officers who responded to the call found Lee standing over his boyfriend, who is identified the documents only by the initials M.J.
The victim was laying face down with a gym bag supporting his head and a jacket on his back covering a single bullet hole. Medics arrived and took the victim to an area hospital for treatment.
He survived.
In interviews with police and the FBI, Lee said he was walking on the trail with his boyfriend when they saw a black bear. He said the victim started running toward him with the bear behind him.
Lee said he tried to shoot the bear with a 9mm handgun, but accidentally hit the victim, documents said.
Before calling 911, Lee called his mother, documents said.
The story quickly started to unravel. The documents said Suffolk police went to the hospital and spoke with the boyfriend.
The victim said he and Lee had been in an on-again-off-again relationship for a while, and that Lee had sometimes been abusive towards him, documents said. He said he traveled down from Pennsylvania earlier in the week to gather some belongings and visit with Lee. The victim was scheduled to return to Pennsylvania the day of the shooting.
The victim said Lee suggested they have a picnic in the refuge and that he agreed. While they walked around, Lee repeatedly said there were black bears in the area, according to the documents.
After walking for awhile, the victim asked Lee if they could leave. The victim said Lee responded by shooting him one time in the upper left chest area, documents said.
"When victim fell to the ground, Lee stated flatly 'there was a bear,' " FBI Special Agent Jason Collins wrote in court documents.
The victim said he saw Lee walk away and talk on his phone after the shooting. After one call, the victim said, Lee walked over to him, looked down and said, "Oh, you're still breathing."