A late-night outing with friends ended in tragedy in Norfolk, Virginia, after a 22-year-old college student was fatally shot in a restaurant parking lot. Investigators say the shooting happened while a friend was showing her a firearm, turning an ordinary gathering into a devastating loss for her family and university community.
Semaj Coleman, a senior at Norfolk State University, suffered a gunshot wound to the chest outside a Waffle House on East Virginia Beach Boulevard. Emergency officials said she arrived at a hospital around 11:45 p.m. on Saturday with life-threatening injuries. She later died.
Matthew B. Croslin, 23, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless handling of a firearm in connection with Coleman’s death.
According to the preliminary investigation, Coleman and Croslin were part of a group of friends who had gathered at the restaurant. Police said the two were discussing guns when Croslin allegedly took out a firearm to show her. The gun discharged, striking Coleman in the chest.
Investigators said there was no reported argument or physical altercation before the shooting. Authorities have described the incident as accidental, although the criminal charges will be addressed through the court process.
What Investigators Say Happened in the Parking Lot
The shooting took place in the 5700 block of East Virginia Beach Boulevard, where the group had stopped at Waffle House.
According to the criminal complaint, the conversation between Coleman and Croslin turned to firearms before he allegedly produced a gun. While he was showing it to her, the weapon discharged.
The preliminary findings indicate that the shooting was not preceded by a fight or dispute. Investigators are treating the death as an accidental shooting, but that description does not mean the circumstances are exempt from criminal investigation.
In cases involving an unintended firearm discharge, authorities may examine how the weapon was handled, whether basic safety precautions were followed and what actions led to the shooting. The specific allegations against Croslin will be evaluated through the legal process.
Coleman was transported to a hospital with a life-threatening injury, but doctors were unable to save her.
The sudden nature of the incident has left friends, loved ones and members of the university community mourning a young woman whose life and education were still unfolding.
A Promising Student at Norfolk State University
Coleman was studying health services management at Norfolk State University, a historically Black university in Norfolk, Virginia.
Her involvement on campus extended beyond her academic work. She participated in the university’s Spartans Promise to Persist with Purpose, or SP3, program and had recently been inducted into the National Association for Allied Health Professions.
Those milestones reflected her progress toward a career connected to the health services field.
In a message to the university community, Norfolk State expressed condolences to Coleman’s family, friends, classmates and faculty members. The school acknowledged that losing a member of the campus community can bring shock, grief and difficult emotions.
For students who knew Coleman, the news was especially painful because it came during a period when many college seniors are preparing for the next stage of their lives, whether that means entering the workforce, pursuing further education or beginning a professional career.
Her death has left those who knew her facing the loss of a classmate and friend, as well as the future she had been working toward.
Why Firearm Safety Matters Even Among Friends
The preliminary account highlights a risk associated with handling firearms in informal settings. A weapon being shown to a friend or discussed during a conversation can still cause a fatal injury if it discharges.
Basic firearm safety practices include treating every firearm as if it is loaded, keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, keeping fingers away from the trigger until ready to fire, and knowing the weapon’s condition before handling it.
A firearm should never be treated as harmless simply because the person holding it does not intend to shoot anyone.
The incident also illustrates the difference between an accidental shooting and a situation in which no one can be held legally responsible. An unintended discharge may still lead to criminal charges if investigators believe the handling of the weapon violated the law or involved a legally culpable level of negligence.
Authorities have not described a preceding dispute between Coleman and Croslin. The central issue in the criminal case will be whether the evidence establishes the conduct alleged in the charges.
Croslin Remains in Custody as the Case Moves Forward
Croslin is being held at the Norfolk City Jail without bond, according to the available case information. His next court appearance was scheduled for November 2.
He faces involuntary manslaughter and reckless handling of a firearm charges related to Coleman’s death. These are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
As the proceedings move forward, the evidence may help establish precisely how the gun discharged and whether the circumstances meet the legal requirements for the charged offenses.
The investigation and court process will determine responsibility for the fatal incident.
A Campus Community Mourns a Life Cut Short
Coleman’s death is a painful reminder of how quickly an everyday gathering can turn into an emergency with irreversible consequences.
For Norfolk State University, the loss extends beyond one student. Classmates, instructors and friends are left grieving someone who had made meaningful progress in her education and had recently received professional recognition.
Her studies in health services management and involvement in campus programs represented important steps toward her future. Those accomplishments now form part of the legacy remembered by the people who knew her.
While the criminal case will focus on the circumstances of the shooting, Coleman’s family and university community must also confront the personal loss left behind.
What began as a late-night meal with friends ended with a young student’s death. As investigators and the courts examine the evidence, those who knew Coleman are left remembering her life and mourning the opportunities she will never have the chance to pursue.
