NORFOLK — A Norfolk man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for fatally shooting his girlfriend in front of her teenage son.
The sentence was part of a plea agreement Quenton Wade, 38, reached with prosecutors, according to a statement issued Thursday by the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. Wade pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the March 2024 slaying of 35-year-old Jessica Ayers.
Wade and his two children were living with Ayers and her 15-year-old son in her apartment in the Ocean Air community, according to the statement.
On the day of the shooting, the couple began arguing in the living room, where the children were playing video games. Ayers’ son went to his bedroom to get away from the argument. Ayers joined him a short time later and closed the door. Wade followed and continued to argue with her from the other side of the door.
When Ayers opened the door, Wade was holding a gun, the statement said. Ayers fell backwards and tried to retrieve a gun she’d hidden under one of the children’s beds, but was unable to get to it. When she stood up to try to de-escalate the situation, Wade shot her in the stomach and fled in her car, the statement said.
Ayers died shortly after being transported to a hospital. Wade turned himself in the following day.