NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A teenager has pleaded guilty in the shooting incident that had MacArthur Mall shoppers scurrying for safety on Valentine’s Day. Kevin Holloman, 19 of Norfolk was one of four young men charged in what prosecutors called a dispute between rival gangs.
Prosecutors say he’s a dangerous gang member, but his father paints a different picture.
Just like he did at a bond hearing earlier this year, Holloman entered the Norfolk courtroom Tuesday morning in a wheelchair. He was wounded in the leg in what prosecutors called a dispute between Norfolk and Portsmouth gangs, and was being held at Hampton Roads Regional Jail.
The shooting happened inside the mall near the entrance to Nordstrom, about two months before that store closed.
Prosecutors have called Holloman’s Facebook page a scrapbook of gang behavior. They say Holloman and two brothers charged in the shooting, D’vegan and D’quan Melvin, are all members of the Cream 2K gang, and a fourth person who was charged, Shawn Mitchell, was a member of the rival Portsmouth 300.
Holloman’s father said off camera that his son was an aspiring rap artist, and was in the mall that day to get t-shirts made that would promote his music. Holloman attended Lake Taylor High School and was also about to start to work for the Merchant Marine.
Holloman pleaded guilty to firing a gun in a public place causing injury and participating in criminal activity while a member of a gang, both felonies. He did not have a plea agreement worked out. Each felony carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. Holloman also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and battery.
Holloman will be sentenced November 15.
Although these cases are being tried in Norfolk, special prosecutors are handling them from Chesapeake and Virginia Beach. A member of the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s staff was a witness to the shooting, so that office could not try the cases.