Joshua Rice dies in fatal Virginia Beach shooting

Joshua Rice dies in fatal Virginia Beach shooting

Fatal Virginia Beach shooting death of Joshua Rice – Obituary

Joshua Rice, a 20-year-old man from Virginia Beach, was shot and killed on April 4 in a neighborhood near his home on Osprey Street, according to police and family statements.

Officers responded to the scene just after 7 p.m., where they discovered Rice with a gunshot wound. He was declared dead at the location. Over the following weeks, five individuals who were reportedly familiar with Rice were arrested in connection with the shooting.

The suspects—Nasir Carter (18), Ekue Dossekpli (19), Taejohn Stewart (21), Shaquita West (29), and Keandre Willie (21)—face various charges including second-degree murder, firearm offenses, and evidence tampering. Police say all of them were acquainted and attended the same high school.

Joshua’s mother, Sharon Rice, shared that her son wasn’t the intended target but was instead caught in a misdirected attack among people he knew. She described the tragedy as a case of friendly fire and expressed a forgiving spirit toward those involved.

The incident unfolded just a block from Joshua’s residence. Neighbors had noticed signs of danger days earlier, including young individuals brandishing guns and posting about it on social media.

One suspect, Willie, admitted in court to discharging a weapon, though he claimed uncertainty about whether he fired the fatal shot. All five accused are scheduled to appear in court this July.