Teen pleads guilty to murder, robbery in pizza driver's death

PORTSMOUTH

An 18-year-old man pleaded guilty Monday to the April 25 murder and robbery of a pizza delivery man in Churchland.

Jamal Minggia pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, robbery and two firearms charges just before his jury trial was to begin Monday. According to the terms of the plea agreement, he faces 26 to 44 years in prison when he is sentenced Nov. 17.

"He's a young man that unfortunately took the life of somebody who was going about his business - a guy just like you and me out there trying to make a living," Commonwealth's Attorney Earle Mobley said.

Robert Edward Kiesewetter, 50, worked three jobs, including the deliveries he made for Papa John's Pizza. He was shot while making a delivery in the area of Edgefield Apartments.

After being shot that night, Kiesewetter managed to drive to a nearby fire station for help. He was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital but died of a gunshot wound to his chest.

Mobley said that although there was no evidence the killing and robbery were gang-related, prosecutors did have evidence that Minggia was a member of the YNIC gang. Police describe YNIC as a Hampton Roads gang affiliated with the Crips.

Mobley said he hopes the outcome of the case will send a message to other gang members that such crimes will be aggressively prosecuted.

Douglas Ottinger, the prosecutor in the case, said he plans to argue for the high end of the sentencing range.

Minggia first denied involvement in the shooting but eventually told police he was the gunman, according to Detective M.A. Luck, who testified Monday.

An eyewitness identified Minggia from a photo lineup without hesitating, Luck testified.

Antonio J. Smith, a co-defendant who was 17 when arrested, is scheduled to be tried Oct. 1 on the same charges.

Smith told police that nothing was planned; it just happened.

At an earlier hearing, Luck said the younger teenager told police he took the pizza but that it was Minggia's idea.

Smith told police he walked away thinking it was over when he heard the shots. He said he took the gun to someone else. Police later recovered the gun and matched bullets to those found at the scene, according to testimony.

On Monday, relatives and friends of Minggia filled the courtroom.

He looked around to his family as he was walked away, giving them a quick wave and pointing his finger at someone he spotted in the crowd.

Kiesewetter's mother, Margaret Chipman, left the courtroom after it had emptied.

Chipman said she wanted her son's killer to get the death penalty.

"He had no right to take a life," she said.

Janie Bryant, (757) 446-2453, janie.bryant@pilotonline.com