A Virginia grand jury has indicted a former Portsmouth, Virginia police officer in the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager.
Stephen D. Rankin was arrested Thursday and charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of William Chapman II, 18.
Rankin was also charged with use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
“I am so happy that I feel sick,” Chapman’s mother, Sallie Chapman, told NBC station WAVY of Portsmouth after Rankin turned himself in to police. “My son can now be at peace. Thank you Lord.”
Rankin responded to a shoplifting report at a Portsmouth, Virginia Walmart store on April 22 when he shot Chapman multiple times in the face and chest in the parking lot, WAVY-TV reports.
Rankin’s attorney Nicole Belote defended her client.
“He gives Mr. Chapman commands, and it’s at that point Mr. Chapman charges at him and the officer had to respond,” said Belote.
But an autopsy showed Chapman was not shot at close range.
“It does not change our defense,” said Belote. “We will continue to prepare for trial and zealously defend Officer Rankin.”
Interim Police Chief Dennis Mook expressed his condolences to the Chapman family in a press release.
“I am confident that the Grand Jury impartially weighed all the evidence presented before rendering their final decision,” said Chief Mook.
This isn’t the first time Rankin has been charged with killing a suspect under suspicious circumstances.
In 2011, Rankin was charged with involuntary manslaughter for shooting a suspect 11 times, but a grand jury declined to indict him.
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