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Man sentenced to 20 years for violent gun crimes, high-speed pursuits in Virginia, OBX

Crystal Graham
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(© cherylvb – stock.adobe.com)

A Virginia Beach man was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for multiple carjackings that involved a firearm.

Bryant Marcus Wilkerson, 30, of Virginia Beach, was sentenced to 250 months in prison for the violent gun crimes.

According to court documents, on Nov. 3, 2020, in Chesapeake, Wilkerson approached an individual who was sitting in the driver seat of their vehicle. Wilkerson told the driver of the vehicle to get out of the car or he would shoot the driver. Before the driver could close the door, Wilkerson stood in between the door and the driver’s seat. Wilkerson then produced a firearm and hit the driver in the face with it. The driver then got out of the vehicle, and Wilkerson drove it away. The vehicle was found abandoned the next day.

On Nov. 9, 2020, Wilkerson approached another individual who was sitting in the driver seat of their vehicle in Currituck, N.C. Wilkerson opened the passenger side door, pointed a firearm at the driver, and ordered the driver to get out of the vehicle. The driver exited the vehicle, but Wilkerson was unable to start the car because the driver still had the key fob. Wilkerson then got into another vehicle that was unoccupied with the engine running and fled the scene. Deputies from the Currituck County Police Department attempted to stop Wilkerson, but he led them on a high-speed chase where Wilkerson drove into oncoming traffic at a high rate of speed and ran other vehicles off the road.

Wilkerson later exited that vehicle and, after a foot pursuit, jumped on the hood of another vehicle, pointed a firearm at the driver, and told the driver to get out. Wilkerson then fired a shot into the dash and pointed the firearm at the driver again. The driver got out of the vehicle, and Wilkerson drove it away.
Wilkerson led law enforcement officers on another high-speed chase traveling at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour while driving in the wrong direction on an expressway.

Law enforcement officers were able to flatten Wilkerson’s tires using spike strips which forced him to finally stop. Wilkerson fled on foot again, robbed another citizen and broke into yet another locked vehicle.

Officers found Wilkerson hiding in the vehicle with a firearm and took him into custody.

“This nearly 21-year sentence reflects the tireless work done by my office’s prosecution team under the mission of Operation Ceasefire, a public safety initiative combating violent gun crime in Virginia,” said Attorney General Miyares. “We remain steadfast in our mission to combat, prevent, and prosecute violent gun crime in our communities.”

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Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, Crystal Graham has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of "Virginia Tonight," a nightly TV news show, both broadcast on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television. You can reach her at [email protected]

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