On the morning of January 30, 2016, in the 7900 block of Westcliff Drive in Norfolk, Virginia, 43-year-old Sonya Hunter was shot outside her home and later died at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Officers found Sonya with multiple gunshot wounds; she was protecting relatives aged 4 to 8 who were in the house and were not harmed.

Police took Sonya’s 22-year-old son, Shawn Hunter, into custody at the scene and charged him with second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of a felony. Witnesses said Sonya had been eating and told Shawn not to do something before he fired multiple shots, striking her in the heart, liver, and arm. Reports noted Shawn had a history of mental health problems and hearing voices; he was later found competent to stand trial.

In November 2017 Shawn pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and a related weapons charge and received a 17 years and four months sentence as part of a plea agreement. Does anyone have information about Sonya, the children who were protected that day, or the events leading up to the shooting?