Testimony: Home invasion started as a robbery

VIRGINIA BEACH

Rob the same victims for the second time in three days. That was the idea on the night of Sept. 10, Kevin R. Marshall Jr., 20, said Friday.

But the plan quickly escalated into one of the city's most vicious crimes of 2008. By the time Marshall and his accomplices sped away from Pembroke Lake Apartments on Windermere Court, nine people had been robbed at gunpoint, two females had been raped, and a teenager had been shot in the abdomen and head.

On Friday, Marshall, who has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts related to the initial robbery Sept. 7, testified in General District Court that Richard "Richie" Richardson Jr. was one of the three who forced their way into an apartment Sept. 10 and committed the crimes.

Richardson, 19, was arrested on nearly 90 felony charges, including robbery, aggravated malicious wounding, rape and weapons offenses. Prosecutors dropped about half of the charges but retained the right to refile them.

Marshall said that on Sept. 7, he arranged for Richardson to get marijuana from a dealer on Windermere Court. Richardson and a friend found the dealer sitting with another young man that night and robbed them both.

Three days later, Marshall said, Richardson suggested they rob the same people again. Marshall, Richardson and three others headed to Windermere, he said.

Marshall stayed in the car with the driver while Richardson, armed with an assault rifle, headed toward the apartment with the other two males, Marshall said. One carried a handgun, the other a shotgun.

According to victim testimony, the trio burst inside and found nine teens and young adults watching TV, drinking alcohol and smoking pot. The intruders told several victims to lie on the floor and demanded cell phones and cash. Two females, including a juvenile teenager, were ordered into a bedroom, where they were sexually assaulted.

The crimes were interrupted when a teenager knocked on the door. The teen testified that when he saw a man with a gun, he turned and ran and was shot in the abdomen and head.

Marshall has not been charged in the Sept. 10 attack, but prosecutor Scott Lang said no agreement was made in exchange for Marshall's testimony Friday.

Judge Pamela Hutchens certified charges against Richardson and sent them to a grand jury.

A juvenile involved in the case was arrested Friday, but no information about him was available. Police are looking for at least two other people involved in the attack.

Shawn Day, (757) 222-5131, shawn.day@pilotonline.com