Inset: Norman Hollowell Jr. (Metropolitan Funeral Service). Background: Apartment complex Pretty Lake Avenue in Norfolk, Va., where Hollowell was gunned down by a childhood friend (WVEC).
A 25-year-old Virginia man shot a childhood friend eight times, and left him to die on a living room floor after they had a dispute over a TV.
Steven Edward Williams Jr. was convicted of second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of a murder in the shooting death of 24-year-old Norman Hollowell Jr. in Norfolk, according to prosecutors.
The incident occurred on July 24, 2024, at an apartment complex on Pretty Lake Avenue. Williams went to Hollowell's apartment and waited outside while armed with a gun. Williams' brother previously lived with Hollowell and left behind a TV when he moved out a few months earlier.
The brother said he was going to pick up the TV but never did, so Hollowell sold it. On the day in question, Williams learned the TV had been sold and called Hollowell several times.
Hollowell was babysitting his young nephew while making food deliveries at the time and eventually answered one of the calls and told Williams to meet him at his apartment.
The victim locked his nephew in his car and texted his mom "I love you" before walking into the apartment where Williams awaited. Williams testified at trial that he did not know that the TV had been sold — but prosecutors presented evidence that he actually knew because he had seen it on Hollowell's Facebook page.
Hollowell offered Williams another TV but the victim became irate when he saw two other men walking up to his apartment. Two minutes later, doorbell camera footage showed Williams armed with a gun and the two men holding a TV running out of the apartment.
Cops later found Hollowell suffering from gunshot wounds on his living room floor. A medical examiner later determined he died of blood loss.
Williams claimed he shot Hollowell in self-defense. He said Hollowell pointed a gun at his face. But there was no evidence that Hollowell had done so, prosecutors said.
After the shooting, the suspect deactivated his Facebook account and ditched the gun, which was later recovered.
A jury deliberated for about three hours before coming back with a guilty verdict.
"The legal standard to prove someone's guilt as charged is high; the standard for the defense of self-defense is much lower. After considering the evidence and their instructions, the jury came to the same conclusion that we did: Mr. Williams was not acting in self-defense, and he was guilty of murder," said Commonwealth's Attorney Ramin Fatehi. "Mr. Williams took the life of someone he had known since childhood. I grieve for Mr. Hollowell and for his family, and I hope that this verdict brings them some closure. At sentencing we will seek a term of confinement for Mr. Williams that reflects the harm he has committed."
Williams is slated to be sentenced on Dec. 18.