An 18-year-old is behind bars without bond in connection with the shooting death of a 22-year-old man on West Liberty Street in Norfolk this past summer, police say. Zaveon J. Lewis faces second-degree murder, use of a firearm, and possession of a firearm by a juvenile charges tied to the killing of Romeo C. Bates Johnson.
Norfolk police arrived at the 100 block of West Liberty Street around 10 p.m. on Aug. 19 after a report of a gunshot victim, according to WTKR. Officers learned that a gunshot victim had been driven to Sentara Leigh Hospital and determined the two incidents were connected, the station reports. Bates Johnson, 22, died of his injuries at the hospital, per the same account. WAVY.com reports that Norfolk police arrested a Suffolk man in connection with the deadly shooting.
Shooting Happened Near Berkley Community Center
The shooting unfolded in Norfolk's Berkley section, near the Berkley Community Center, according to dailypress.com. The incident was near the Berkley Community Center.
There is a discrepancy in reporting on when Lewis was taken into custody. WAVY.com's report states that Norfolk police arrested Lewis in connection with the shooting on Nov. 12, while WTKR reports that Lewis was arrested and charged Friday, Nov. 13. Both outlets agree on the charges: second-degree murder, use of a firearm, and possession of a firearm by a juvenile, and both report that Lewis is being held in Norfolk City Jail without bond.
Separate Case Shows Lewis's Prior Brush With the Law
Court and police records referenced in a separate WTKR report describe another Norfolk shooting involving someone named Lewis, which took place on June 18, 2024. In that case, the outlet notes that security-camera footage and Flock license plate readers led to Lewis being found and arrested just hours later, according to police, and that the motive for that killing remains unknown.
Virginia law separately addresses firearm possession involving minors. Under Virginia Code § 18.2-308.7(B), it is unlawful for a person younger than 18 to knowingly and intentionally possess or transport a handgun or assault firearm anywhere in the Commonwealth. The statute does not by itself explain how the juvenile-firearm charge applies to Lewis, who is 18, or the specific facts behind the charge in this case.
The charges are allegations, not convictions.
