A Norfolk man is heading to prison for more than a decade after a violent incident involving his then-girlfriend last year.
King David Manning Jr., 39, was sentenced on April 11 to 14 years behind bars—10 years for felony abduction and another four for violating probation tied to an earlier case.
The case stems from a March 2023 altercation. According to police, Manning picked up his girlfriend from her mother’s house. She had a legally owned firearm with her, which she was bringing home. While driving, the couple began arguing. When the woman tried to get out of the vehicle, Manning yanked her back by the hair and hit her.
She managed to escape and flagged down a stranger, who drove her to safety. From there, she called Norfolk Police.
Manning fled to North Carolina after the attack. Officers tracked him down there and arrested him—he was still carrying the woman’s gun. Because of prior felony convictions, Manning wasn’t legally allowed to have a firearm.
Police initially charged him with multiple offenses: felony abduction, assault, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a felon. The case went to trial, and Manning pled not guilty.
On January 15, 2025, a jury convicted him of abduction but cleared him of the gun charge. Prosecutors later dropped the assault and firearm possession counts.
Judge Robert B. Rigney gave Manning the full 10 years allowed for abduction. He also reinstated four years of previously suspended time related to Manning’s probation, citing the new conviction.
“Mr. Manning’s abusive behavior endangered and traumatized the survivor of this incident, and it has earned Mr. Manning more than a decade in prison,” said Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “I am grateful to the survivor for her courage, to the good Samaritan who rescued [her], and to the Norfolk Police for their solid work.”