Virginia Beach restaurateur won't be charged in shooting

Posted to: Crime Virginia Beach

Video: Interview with the restaurant owner.
Steve Earley | The Virginian-Pilot

Click for full view

Ferdinando Abbondante, owner of Dominick's Pizza and Pasta in Virginia Beach, shot and killed an intruder Saturday night. (Steve Earley | The Virginian-Pilot)

By Duane Bourne
The Virginian-Pilot
© July 1, 2008

The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office will not prosecute the pizza shop owner who shot and killed a man trying to rob his restaurant over the weekend.

Chief prosecutor Harvey Bryant said Tuesday that, after reviewing several photographs and witness statements, his office will not pursue criminal charges against Ferdinando Abbondante because he “acted in self defense and reasonable apprehension of serious bodily harm.”

Abbondante was working inside Dominick’s Pizza and Pasta in the 4200 block of Holland Road shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday, when Johnny Marocco Williams stormed through the back door and ordered employees into a back room.

Wearing a bandanna and holding a handgun, Willams told Abbondante to open the safe, police said. When the safe was opened, Abbondante told police, Williams fired once, missing him and the other employees.

Abbondante said he then took his own gun out of the safe and fired back, killing the 41-year-old Hampton man.

Common Sense Prevails

Submitted by skispcs on Tue, 07/01/2008 at 11:33 pm.

I am happy that he is not being charged. I am going to stop by and get a slice and congratulate the gentleman on defending his employees and property.

Pizza

Submitted by stevenc55848 on Tue, 07/01/2008 at 10:21 pm.

I think I know where I'll be having a slice when I come in this weekend. Kudos

Live By The Sword, You Die By The Sword

Submitted by Steven-2090 on Tue, 07/01/2008 at 10:20 pm.

How true. Why Could the man just not work for a living, no he choose to live by the gun, and he died by the gun.

Of course it was considered

Submitted by MostlyConfused on Tue, 07/01/2008 at 6:55 pm.

Considering charges is mandatory. People will try all kinds of cover stories for a murder, so it's important to look at the details and make sure that wasn't the case. It's also not up to anyone to prove they acted in self defense. It's up to the state to prove they didn't beyond a reasonable doubt. In this case they found no evidence anyone was lying, and the conclusion came quickly, so it must have been very clear what happened.

Charges?

Submitted by marks57720 on Tue, 07/01/2008 at 6:45 pm.

Who in their right mind would charge this man?..If they did, they would be on the same level as that lowlife robber! Let's get real...this man deserves a medal!

Justice is served

Submitted by dm4769 on Tue, 07/01/2008 at 6:31 pm.

To all the gun control advocates out there: This is a perfect example for our need and justification for our second amendment rights and the right for a law abiding citizen to protect his/herself. The Commonwealth's Attorney makes extensive investigations in cases like this to ensure the homicide is justified. Justice was served in this case. The owner in this case did the right thing and saved the lives of his customers, employees, and his own. I just hope and pray they can recover from the trauma and move forward with their lives.

Wait a minute....

Submitted by C.B. on Tue, 07/01/2008 at 6:30 pm.

Was there even a consideration of charging this man? Again, the law works in favor of criminals by placing the onus on the victim to prove they acted in self defense or face murder charges. If someone breaks into my house, I don't care if he brandishes a weapon or not, they are a threat to my family and will be dead meat!!

Wonderful!!!

Submitted by cathyb on Tue, 07/01/2008 at 6:21 pm.

I was concerned this owner would be charged for defending his property, his self and his employees. Now we have 1 less thief on the streets. Kudos for not pressing charges!