Black Reporter Killed While On-Call In Virginia Shooting

A 25-year-old journalist has died following a shooting in Norfolk, Virginia.

According to the Virginia Pilot, Sierra M. Jenkins was one of two people killed early Saturday morning (March 19) when gunfire erupted on Granby Street in downtown Norfolk.

Jenkins had reportedly been at Chicho’s Pizza Backstage with her best friend when an argument started outside and "Jenkins was caught in the line of fire as she left." She was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

A total of five people were shot during the incident. Along with Jenkins, a 25-year-old man, Devon M. Harris, was also killed as a result of the shooting. Three other individuals were injured, including one who suffered life-threatening injuries.

Jenkins worked at the Virginia-Pilot as a reporter. Following news of the young journalist's death, the newspaper reported that Jenkins was on-call for breaking news at the time of the shooting and that an editor had reached out to her "repeatedly to ask her to cover it," not knowing she was a victim.

"We are devastated to report that Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press reporter Sierra Jenkins was among the victims of an overnight shooting in downtown Norfolk," the outlet tweeted Saturday morning.

In 2020, Jenkins was hired by the Pilot and Daily Press to cover breaking news. She later became an education reporter.

“Sierra was a bright and talented woman with so much going for her. Her passion for journalism was undeniable and our community is better because of her reporting,” Kris Worrell, editor-in-chief of Virginia Media, said in a statement. “Sierra was funny and energetic and full of enthusiasm. We are absolutely heartbroken.”

Jenkins had recently celebrated her 25th birthday on March 13 — the Sunday prior to her death — Jenkins’ father, Maurice Jenkins, told the Pilot.


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