Feb 2, 2017

CHESAPEAKE

An attorney said Thursday a guard with Chesapeake-based Citywide Protection Services was acting in self-defense last week when he shot and killed a 60-year-old man in the River Walk neighborhood.

The family of Jiansheng Chen has described the Chinese immigrant as a grandfather who was playing “Pokemon Go” when he was shot in his minivan a half-mile from home.

Andrew Sacks, attorney for Citywide, said Chen wasn’t as mild-mannered as the family claims.

“There was a history of problems between the company and Mr. Chen,” Sacks said without offering details. He said he would provide more information Monday during a news conference .

“We are going to have a very strong, hard-hitting, very accurate, very credible and fully documented statement about what actually happened,” Sacks said, stressing the company’s desire to “set the record straight.”

In announcing his news conference, Sacks offered new information about what he said happened between the guard and Chen. He said a passenger in the guard’s vehicle witnessed “relevant portions” of what led up to it. He also said a vehicle can be used as a weapon.

Police said Chen was sitting in his minivan around 11 p.m. Jan. 26 outside the Riverwalk Clubhouse on the 700 block of River Walk Pkwy., when he was confronted by a security guard. They argued and the guard fired through various windows of the van, police said.

Charges have not been filed, and the guard’s name has not been released. In an email Thursday, Commonwealth’s Attorney Nancy Parr said the investigation is ongoing, and a decision on whether to bring charges will be made after all evidence is collected, analyzed and reviewed.

Police declined to provide The Pilot with the police report or audio from any 911 call, citing state code that exempts criminal investigation files from disclosure.

The River Walk Community Association has suspended its contract with Citywide, its board said Thursday in a statement emailed through a spokesman.

The community “did have a contract for unarmed roving patrol services for the community boat ramp and clubhouse” but immediately canceled it after the shooting.

The contract had been in place since 2010 and provided for guards to stop through the boat ramp and clubhouse area three times a night, said association spokesman Billy Rudolph. The association originally said the incident took place outside of its property, but Rudolph said that was an internal misunderstanding.

Community officials have gathered footage of that night from security cameras at the clubhouse. It does not contain audio and only captures cars driving into the parking lot, he said.

Rudolph said police have not asked for the video.

Through an attorney, Chen’s family has said he was a “kind, wise and caring family man” who was the first in his family to immigrate to America from China 28 years ago in search of a better life.

Chen spoke little English, according to his family.

A call and email to the family’s lawyer were not returned Thursday.