VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The teenager injured during a shooting at Mount Trashmore in May has now been charged in connection with the shooting death of the 15-year-old girl who died that night.
Virginia Beach police announced in a Thursday morning news conference that now 19-year-old Markal Cook, who was shot at the May 25 Mount Trashmore shooting that killed a 15-year-old girl, has been charged with second-degree murder.
Cook was taken to the hospital after suffering a gunshot wound the night of May 25.
Police said around 8:30 p.m. that night, police were dispatched to the 3000 block of Edwin Drive, just outside of the Summer Carnival at Mount Trashmore, in reference to a shooting.
Officers arrived to the scene and found a 15-year-old girl, Jeyani, and Cook suffering from gunshot wounds. Jeyani was transferred to a hospital, where she later died.
During a May 28 Virginia Beach City Council meeting, Police Chief Paul Neudigate addressed the public to give updates on the shooting, saying that misinformation given to the police has made the investigation challenging.
Shortly after the city council meeting, on May 29, Cook was arrested and charged with unlawful carrying of a concealed weapon in connection with the incident.
While he was seen in a recorded video taking a pistol from a concealed location and firing into the crowd, Cook, when 10 On Your Side last spoke with him from behind bars June 5, maintained his innocence, saying he never had a gun.
“I was nothing but an innocent bystander who was trying desperately to survive amongst all the chaos that took place that day,” Cook said. “I hope justice will be served for the 16 year old girl that sadly lost her life to senseless gun violence in our city,” Cook said.
Police believe Cook was really injured in a separate shooting that night and later lied about it to officers. Anyone with information is urged to contact police. Cook declined WAVY News 10’s request for an interview.
Thursday, Neudigate announced during a press conference that they were also charging Cook with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Neudigate discussed Cook’s prior convictions from 2023, which included:
- Obstructing/resisting arrest with force (Norfolk): Pled guilty — sentenced 12 months; 12 months suspended
- Trespass (Norfolk): Pled guilty — sentenced 12 months; 12 months suspended
- Concealed weapon (Norfolk): Pled guilty — sentenced 12 months; 12 months suspended
- Concealed weapon (Norfolk): Convicted — sentenced 12 months; 11 months, 26 days suspended
In total, Cook spent a total of only four days in jail for all four convictions.
“Our hearts go out to the victim’s family and loved ones,” Neudigate said. “Cook’s criminal history shows several convictions in 2023 where the jail sentence was suspended. If Cook had been serving those sentences instead of being released, there’s a good chance he would have been incarcerated on May 25, 2024, and our 15-year-old victim would be at home with her family today. Until our nation, our society, our community starts treating illegal weapon possession with the seriousness it deserves, we will continue to be impacted by gun violence.”
Neudigate added that “illegal weapon possession is the precursor to shooting violence.”
The chief has made this the top priority of this department and officers have been working around the clock on this case—and they’re not done yet.
These charges are the culmination of a lot of footwork done by Neudigate’s officers and detectives— in spite of the public being uncooperative.
“We have been presented with a lot of disinformation,” Neudigate said. “But we can also use that disinformation to establish fact patterns.”
Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi told 10 On Your Side that when he got convictions for both gun charges last year, he asked for a longer sentence of 30 days. The judge only sentenced Cook to four. At the time, Cook had a minimal prior record with no felonies and was a senior at Lake Taylor High School.
“Until our nation, our society, our community, our community, our region starts treating illegal weapon possession like the serious offense it is, we are going to continue to be impacted by gun violence,” Neudigate said.
The full news conference can be found below:
