A 25-year-old breaking information reporter with the Virginian-Pilot was on name when colleagues realized she was among the many victims of a taking pictures exterior of an area bar.
Journalist Sierra Jenkins was amongst two individuals fatally shot exterior a Virginia bar early Saturday morning, the Virginian-Pilot reviews.
An editor had been reaching out to Jenkins asking her to cowl the taking pictures they heard occurred in downtown Norfolk. That they had no concept that Jenkins was among the many victims shot.
Jenkins was hanging along with her greatest pal at Chicho’s Pizza Backstage and was leaving when gunfire erupted exterior. The younger journalist was later pronounced lifeless at Sentara Norfolk Common Hospital.
Eyewitnesses say an argument began exterior earlier than pictures rang out. 5 individuals have been shot in complete with two being deadly.
Devon M. Harris, additionally 25, was pronounced lifeless on the scene, police mentioned. Three different males have been injured from the crossfire, together with one who suffered life-threatening accidents.
Jenkins was a local of Norfolk and graduated from Georgia State College, NPR reviews. She had simply celebrated her twenty fifth birthday final week.
She interned at Atlanta Journal and CNN earlier than becoming a member of The Pilot in December 2020. She additionally labored for the Day by day Press overlaying schooling.
“Sierra was a brilliant and gifted girl with a lot going for her. Her ardour for journalism was simple and our group is healthier due to her reporting,” mentioned Kris Worrell, editor-in-chief of Virginia Media mentioned.
“Sierra was humorous and energetic and stuffed with enthusiasm. We’re completely heartbroken.”
Jenkins father, Maurice Jenkins mentioned his daughter “wasn’t a lot of a going-out type of individual in any respect” however agreed to satisfy along with her pal who wished to exit.
“I can simply hear her voice in my head, ‘Hey, Dad,’ simply at all times… She was a daddy’s woman,” Maurice Jenkins mentioned. “Every kind of life and alternative forward of her, but it surely was reduce quick due to mindless violence.”
The group has joined the Jenkins household and Virginian-Pilot in mourning her loss.
“Our hearts are breaking for the lives misplaced in Norfolk, together with Sierra Jenkins,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin tweeted on Saturday. “The First Woman and I are praying for his or her households, pals, and the Virginian-Pilot group.”
Our hearts are breaking for the lives misplaced in Norfolk, together with Sierra Jenkins.
The First Woman and I are praying for his or her households, pals, and the Virginian-Pilot group.https://t.co/dG4J5RaLvv
— Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA) March 19, 2022
