EX-CNN Intern Sierra Jenkins ID’d As Victim In Saturday VA Double-Fatal Shooting

NORFOLK, VA. (THECOUNT) — Sierra Jenkins has been identified as the young reporter killed in a double-fatal shooting outside a Norfolk, Virginia restaurant and bar Saturday.

Jenkins, 25, a former intern at the Atlanta headquarters of CNN, was shot dead outside Norfolk eatery, Chicho’s Backstage, along with another individual on Saturday. In total, five people were shot.

According to reports, Jenkins, who covered education for The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk, was exiting the eatery, when she and Devon M. Harris, 25, of Portsmouth, were caught in the crossfire of an argument that has escalated into shots fired early Saturday.

Jenkins and Harris were transported to area hospitals where they were both pronounced dead of gunshot injuries.

Another woman had a life-threatening gunshot wound, while two more men received gunshot wounds that were not life-threatening, police said in a news release.

Jenkins grew up in Norfolk and graduated from Georgia State University. She worked as an intern at Atlanta Magazine and CNN before joining The Pilot in December 2020.

“Sierra was a bright and talented woman with so much going for her. Her passion for journalism was undeniable and our community is better because of her reporting,” said Kris Worrell, editor-in-chief of Virginia Media, which operates The Virginian-Pilot and several other newspapers. “Sierra was funny and energetic and full of enthusiasm. We are absolutely heartbroken.”

Jenkins had recently celebrated her 25th birthday and got her first apartment in Virginia Beach a month ago after having lived with family, the newspaper reported.

No suspect information was provided by officials.

DEVELOPING::

Geo quick facts: Norfolk is a waterfront city in southeastern Virginia. It’s home to Naval Station Norfolk, a massive naval base on Chesapeake Bay. Nauticus is a maritime museum that features the Battleship Wisconsin, a huge WWII warship. The Chrysler Museum of Art showcases a vast collection of glass art, plus European and American paintings and sculpture. The riverside Virginia Zoo is home to bears, birds, lions and farm animals – wikipedia.