In a swift trial this week, a Norfolk jury convicted 29-year-old Javon Jerome Reap of second-degree murder and using a firearm in the killing of 33-year-old Antwain Desean Curtis. The fatal shooting took place inside a 7-Eleven at Wards Corner on December 1, 2023.
The jury rejected Reap’s claim of self-defense, returning a guilty verdict after about two hours of deliberation. The entire incident, lasting just 10 seconds, was captured on the store’s security cameras.
Around 10:30 p.m. on the night of the shooting, Reap entered the convenience store on W. Little Creek Road, approached Curtis, and shot him point-blank in the chest. Curtis, who was unarmed, died almost immediately from a gunshot wound to the heart. After fleeing the scene, Reap was later tracked down through surveillance footage and cell phone data that placed him at the scene.
Reap initially fled the state, but authorities located him in New York City in March 2024 and brought him back to Norfolk the following month to face charges.
During the trial, Reap testified that he felt threatened by Curtis, but video evidence presented by the prosecution contradicted this claim. The footage showed no indication of a confrontation or threat before Reap fired the fatal shot.
While the jury convicted Reap of second-degree murder and using a firearm in the crime, they could not reach a unanimous decision on a conspiracy charge, which was subsequently dismissed.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 20, 2024, where Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi intends to seek a penalty that reflects the gravity of the crime.