An editor at The Virginian-Pilot learned about a shooting in downtown Norfolk early Saturday morning. He contacted the reporter on the breaking news shift to cover the unfolding events.
Little did he know, that reporter, 25-year-old Sierra Jenkins, had been caught in the crossfire.
Jenkins, an education journalist for both The Pilot and Daily Press, was with her best friend at Chicho’s Pizza Backstage on Granby St., her family told The Pilot.
Manager Rory Schnidel told The Pilot that around 1:30 a.m., bartenders made a final call for drinks. As patrons began exiting, he heard an argument outside then gunfire erupted.
According to police reports, five people were shot. Devon Harris, 25, was pronounced dead at the scene and three others were wounded.
Police said Jenkins had life-threatening gunshot wounds when they arrived. She was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where she later died.
Her father, Maurice Jenkins, told The Pilot that his daughter was “sweet, caring, and hard-working” and loved being a journalist. She had just turned 25 on March 13.
Jenkins was a Norfolk native and graduated from Granby High School. She earned her bachelors from Georgia State University in 2019 and interned at Atlanta Magazine and CNN. She joined The Virginian-Pilot in December 2020.
“Sierra was a bright and talented woman with so much going for her,” said Kris Worrell, editor-in-chief of Virginia Media, to The Pilot. “We are absolutely heartbroken.”
National Association of Black Journalists President Dorothy Tucker and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin echoed similar sentiments via Twitter.
On Monday, friends and family held a vigil at Granby High School. They also set up a memorial outside of the restaurant where the fatal shooting happened.
Norfolk Police have not made any arrests in connection to the shooting and say the incident is still under investigation.
Police are asking anyone with information to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP, where you can leave anonymous tips.