Five Gang Members Arrested and Convicted for Role in Homicide, Gang Activity; Commonwealth v. Hassan Abdul Johnson, Zion Maleek Urquhart, Omari Andre Green, Nasir Nesshon Thomas, and Malachi Isaiah Handy

Virginia Beach, Va. – Colin D. Stolle, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the city of Virginia Beach, announced convictions for five co-defendants for their involvement in gang activity and the homicide of 18-year-old Damion Julio Rodriguez-Kirkland.

Hassan Abdul Johnson, age 22, formerly of the 500 block of Draper Drive in Norfolk, Virginia, was found guilty after jury trial which started September 15, 2025.  He was convicted of Second Degree Murder- Maliciously Shooting at Car Resulting in Death, Participation in Criminal Act for Benefit of Gang, Maliciously Shooting at Occupied Vehicle (2 counts), and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony.  Circuit Court Judge James C. Lewis, who presided over the jury trial, will sentence Johnson on December 15, 2025.

Nasir Nesshon Thomas, age 20, formerly of the 800 block of Goff Street in Norfolk, Virginia, was found guilty after a jury trial which started on November 18, 2024.  He was convicted of Second Degree Murder- Maliciously Shooting at Car Resulting in Death, Participation in Criminal Act for Benefit of Gang, Maliciously Shooting at Occupied Vehicle (9 counts), and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony.  Judge Lewis sentenced him to 73 years in prison with five (5) years suspended, leaving 68 years to serve. 

Zion Maleek Urquhart, age 22, formerly of the 9600 block of Beaumont Street in Norfolk, Virginia, pled guilty to charges of Second Degree Murder- Maliciously Shooting at Car Resulting in Death and Participation in Criminal Act for Benefit of Gang.  Judge Lewis sentenced him to fifty (50) years in prison with 28 years suspended, leaving 22 years to serve.

Omari Andre Green, age 23, formerly of the 200 block of Bob Lane in Virginia Beach, Virginia, was found guilty after a jury trial which started June 3, 2024.  He was convicted of Second Degree Murder- Maliciously Shooting at Car Resulting in Death and Participation in Criminal Act for Benefit of Gang.  Judge Lewis sentenced Green to fifty (50) years in prison with fifteen (15) years suspended, leaving 35 years to serve.

Malachi Isaiah Handy, age 23, formerly of the 900 block of Albert Avenue in Norfolk, Virginia, pled guilty to Maliciously Shooting at an Occupied Vehicle and Participation in Criminal Act for Benefit of Gang.  Circuit Court Judge Afshin Farashahi sentenced Handy to twenty (20) years in prison with eight (8) years suspended, leaving twelve (12) years to serve.

The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that all five co-conspirators were members of a criminal street gang, Spazz gang.  On June 14, 2021, they were involved in breaking into vehicles in the Lake Edward area of Virginia Beach.  The group was in two stolen vehicles: a blue Honda and a grey sedan.  They spotted a vehicle occupied by the victim and three other individuals. Defendant Green told the rest of his group, “There’s the opps,” referencing opposing gang members.  The victim and his group were not in fact affiliated with any gang and were unknown to the group in the stolen vehicles. 

The group of Spazz gang members opened fire on the victim’s vehicle, firing close to 50 gunshots.   Three members of the victim’s vehicle jumped out and ran from the barrage of gunfire.  Responding officers found Damion Julio Rodriguez-Kirkland in the vehicle suffering a gunshot wound. He died several days later.

The perpetrators left and met up at another location, where they talked about the incident.  Cell phone records placed multiple defendants together throughout the night and at the scene of the shooting.  Multiple firearms were recovered throughout the investigation, and several of the defendants were linked to the homicide through DNA evidence.  Portions of the incident were captured on doorbell cameras.

This investigation and prosecution were a result of years of effort by detectives from the Virginia Beach Police Department and members of the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

“These convictions send a resounding message that violence and gang activity will not be tolerated in Virginia Beach and that there are certain and substantial consequences for those that choose to ignore this warning,” said Virginia Beach Police Department Chief Paul Neudigate. “I commend the work of our detectives and the Commonwealth's Attorney Office for their persistence in bringing these violent criminals to justice and providing some level of closure to the impacted families.”

“This case highlights the importance of the partnership between law enforcement and the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office,” Stolle said.  “Working together, we removed a group of very dangerous criminals from our city, and the family of a victim of senseless gun violence received justice.”

All five (5) defendants convicted in this case have prior felony convictions.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Megan M. Lang and Thomas J. Wright. Please contact Macie Allen if additional information is required.