Man sentenced to over 4 years in prison for shooting at a family outside Norfolk home

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – A man was sentenced to over four years in prison after being convicted of shooting at a family outside of a Norfolk home in 2023.

According to officials, on May 17, 2023, 21-year-old Terence Artavian Welker Jr. approached a home on Nevada Avenue in an attempt to confront a man he believed to be involved with the mother of Welker’s child. The home belonged to the intended victim’s mother.

As the intended victim was not at the residence at the time, Welker then threatened the mother, prompting her to take out an emergency protective order against Welker, temporarily banning him from the property.

On the morning of May 20, Welker returned to the home. The intended victim was not home, but another family member was. He challenged Welker to a fistfight for threatening his mother.

Police said the son was able to overpower Welker until Norfolk Police arrived to the scene. Welker was then served outstanding warrants for the incident on May 17 and the protective order.

Shortly after being released from the Police Operations Center, Welker met up with a friend to retrieve a firearm, and then went back to the home on Nevada Avenue.

As Welker was headed to the house, four of the woman’s sons — including Welker’s intended victim — met outside of the house. When Welker approached the home, he began shooting towards the intended victim. Welker fled the scene after one of the men returned fire. No one was injured.

Welker was then arrested in Chesapeake in March of 2024. Welker pled not guilty to charges of attempted malicious wounding and using a firearm to commit a felony, but was convicted as charged on July 23.

Thursday, Sept. 20, Welker was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison in relation to the incident.

“Mr. Welker’s escalating threats of violence ended with Mr. Welker’s decision to shoot at the victims in this case,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi said. “We are fotunate that Mr. Welker missed his target. Once again, a nation awash in illegal guns provides too-easy access to people who wish to do violence. We have worked to hold Mr. Welker accountable, but until our nation addresses the tidal wave of guns washing over us, we will continue to see incidents like this.”

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