In a string of violent crimes that started on a quiet Norfolk street and ended in a high-speed chase across city lines, two men have now been sentenced to lengthy prison terms.
Hassan Abdul Johnson Jr., 22, was sentenced last month to 15 years behind bars after a Norfolk jury found him guilty of carjacking, armed robbery, and several other felonies stemming from a crime spree in August 2022. His co-defendant, 24-year-old Brian Lacole Spears, was sentenced to 13 years in 2023 after entering a no-contest plea.
According to prosecutors, it all started on the morning of August 20, 2022, when Johnson and Spears, along with two unidentified accomplices, stole from a car parked on Norchester Avenue. When the owner tried to intervene, the two men robbed him at gunpoint, taking his car keys and Apple AirPods. They fled the scene in a stolen silver Dodge Charger.
The group’s next stop was a residential area off Norview Avenue, where they attempted to steal a truck. When the owner confronted them, they ran off—but not for long.
Minutes later, they found an idling Hyundai Tucson on Giles Circle. When Johnson tried to drive it away, the owner attempted to stop him. Johnson punched her, knocking her to the ground, and then ran over her legs as he sped off. He later crashed the vehicle into a parked car and fled the scene on foot, purse in hand, before rejoining the group.
The stolen AirPods ended up helping police track the suspects. Norfolk Police used the GPS data to locate them at a restaurant off Northampton Boulevard in Virginia Beach. When officers arrived, the suspects ran. Spears jumped back into the stolen Charger and led police on a high-speed chase. Officers later found the car abandoned and arrested Spears nearby. He had two loaded semi-automatic pistols in his backpack.
Johnson’s identity wasn’t confirmed until a later arrest in Virginia Beach, when the carjacking victim identified him.
Spears entered an Alford plea—meaning he didn’t admit guilt but acknowledged the evidence was strong enough to convict him—and received a 13-year active sentence. He’ll be under strict conditions for another 27 years after release, including supervised probation, restitution, and no contact with the victims.
Johnson, who pleaded not guilty, went to trial in June 2025 and was found guilty on all counts. In October, Judge Devon R. Paige sentenced him to 15 years in prison—slightly above the recommended guideline of just under 15 years. He’ll face another 53 years of suspended time, tied to conditions like probation, good behavior, and supervision after release.
“Mr. Johnson and Mr. Spears were fortunate that they did not kill anyone in this dangerous series of crimes,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “But that has to do as much with luck as with any deliberate decision.”
Fatehi said the sentencing reflects the seriousness of their actions and sends a message that the city will continue to prioritize public safety.