In a case that shook the local Navy community, 27-year-old Nildaliz Arline Flores-Roman has been sentenced to 28 years in prison for shooting and killing Petty Officer First Class Katrina Ann Anderson during a domestic dispute last year.
Flores-Roman was convicted in June of second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of a felony. On Friday, Norfolk Circuit Court Judge Everett A. Martin Jr. handed down the 28-year sentence — five years more than the sentencing guidelines had recommended — citing the circumstances of the killing and what prosecutors described as Flores-Roman’s complete lack of remorse.
A Night Out Turns Fatal
The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of March 16, 2024. Anderson had been out celebrating her 28th birthday with Flores-Roman’s then-wife and other friends. All three women served on the USS Mahan, stationed at Naval Station Norfolk.
Around 2 a.m., the group ended up at Flores-Roman’s apartment on East Little Creek Road. An argument broke out between the married couple in the parking lot, and when Flores-Roman tried to pull her wife into the apartment, Anderson stepped in to stop her. A physical fight followed between Flores-Roman and Anderson.
The three eventually went inside the apartment. Flores-Roman went to the bedroom, grabbed a handgun, and as Anderson tried to flee, Flores-Roman fired several shots. One bullet struck Anderson in the chest. As Anderson collapsed outside on the sidewalk, witnesses said Flores-Roman struck her once in the head with the gun before throwing it aside and walking away.
Anderson died on the scene.
Jury Took Just 20 Minutes to Convict
Flores-Roman was arrested immediately and later pleaded not guilty, opting for a jury trial. The two-day trial wrapped up in June, and jurors needed only 20 minutes to return a guilty verdict on both charges.
At sentencing, Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi said Flores-Roman showed “no sign of being sorry,” and the office pushed for the 28-year sentence. Her defense team requested 17 years. Judge Martin sided with the prosecution.
A Troubled Relationship, A Devastated Community
Flores-Roman’s wife, who made the 911 call, told police they had a turbulent, emotionally abusive relationship. Anderson had reportedly tried to support her friend through it.
Fatehi underscored the senselessness of the act:
“Ms. Anderson… was a Good Samaritan trying to help a fellow sailor. She did not deserve to die.”
The sentence includes five additional years suspended, with conditions including supervised probation and 15 years of good behavior after release.