The Norfolk State University community is mourning the tragic loss of Semaj Richelle Coleman, a 22-year-old senior whose life was cut short in an accidental shooting in Norfolk, Virginia. Coleman, who was studying health services management, died after suffering a life-threatening gunshot wound late Friday, October 24, 2026, according to police and published reports.
Authorities said officers were notified at approximately 11:45 p.m. Friday that a woman had arrived at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with a critical gunshot wound. Coleman later died from her injuries.
The preliminary investigation determined that the shooting was accidental and occurred in a parking lot in the 5700 block of East Virginia Beach Boulevard, according to the Norfolk Police Department.
A 23-year-old man, Matthew B. Croslin of Newport News, was taken into custody at the scene. Police charged him with involuntary manslaughter and reckless handling of a firearm. He was being held at Norfolk City Jail without bond, according to the report. The charges are allegations, and the case will proceed through the legal system.
Coleman was a senior at Norfolk State University and participated in the school’s Spartans Promise to Persist with Purpose program. She had also recently been inducted into the National Association for Allied Health Professionals, an achievement that reflected her academic involvement and commitment to her field of study.
Her death has brought sorrow to classmates, faculty members and others connected to the university. As a student nearing the completion of her degree, Coleman had been working toward her future in health services management.
The loss of a young student under such circumstances is a painful reminder of how quickly lives can change. As the university community grieves, thoughts remain with Coleman’s family, friends and everyone affected by her passing.
