Norfolk State senior killed; Newport News man charged

Semaj R. Coleman, a 22-year-old Norfolk State University senior, died after a shooting in Norfolk, and police charged Matthew B. Croslin, 23, with involuntary manslaughter and reckless handling of a firearm. Police said their preliminary investigation found the shooting accidental, a finding that does not resolve the charges or establish guilt.

Police said they were notified at about 11:45 p.m. on Oct. 24, 2026, that Coleman had arrived at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with a life-threatening gunshot wound. She later died. Police placed the shooting in a parking lot in the 5700 block of East Virginia Beach Boulevard. WTVR reported that the lot was at a Waffle House.

Police said Croslin was taken into custody at the scene and was being held in Norfolk City Jail without bond. The department announced the charges on Oct. 25, the day after the reported hospital notification.

What the preliminary finding means i

Police described the shooting as accidental while also reporting criminal charges against Croslin. Those statements are not a final ruling about what happened: the police assessment was preliminary, and the charges are allegations, not a finding of guilt. The reported facts therefore establish the charges and the department’s early assessment, but do not establish Croslin’s guilt or a final account of the shooting.

WTVR, citing Norfolk State, reported that Coleman was a senior majoring in Health Services Management. The station also reported that the university made counseling and support services available to students. Police identified Coleman as a 22-year-old from Mollusk, Virginia, and Croslin as a 23-year-old from Newport News.

WTVR reported that the investigation remained ongoing. The reported criminal charges and preliminary police assessment are distinct parts of the case; neither should be read as a court’s final determination.