VIRGINIA BEACH
A Franklin man is facing 50 years in prison after being convicted of killing his friend during an armed burglary last year in Virginia Beach.

This was confirmed from Macie Allen, spokeswoman for the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney, in the following press release

Colin D. Stolle, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the city of Virginia Beach, announced that Deandre Evans Womack, 24, formerly of the 1600 block of Dorchester Street in Franklin, was sentenced on Tuesday by Circuit Court Judge James C. Lewis for first-degree felony murder, robbery, attempted robbery, malicious wounding, armed burglary and four counts of the use of a firearm.

Judge Lewis sentenced Womack to 148 years in prison with 98 years suspended, leaving 50 years to serve.

Womack was found guilty by Judge Lewis after a trial on April 24. The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that on the evening of Aug. 6, 2016, Deandre Womack, Michael Scott and a third individual went to Virginia Beach to commit a home invasion robbery. They entered a home on 22nd Street at the oceanfront area of Virginia Beach. At the time, two French exchange students were inside the home. Womack and his accomplices held the occupants at gunpoint and demanded their property. One of the suspects discharged a gun, inadvertently striking one of the suspects, Michael Scott, in the head. Scott collapsed, landing on an exchange student, who was also struck by the same bullet. Womack and the other suspect fled. The exchange student survived the shooting, but has a permanent scar.

An officer on bike patrol noticed Womack’s accomplice running from the home and a foot pursuit began. The suspect threw several items, including a wallet belonging to one of the exchange students and a .40 caliber pistol. He was apprehended a short distance away. There was blood on his hands, shirt and the pistol.

Later that evening, Womack went to the home of Michael Scott’s girlfriend. He told her that he thought Scott had been shot in Virginia Beach. She drove to Virginia Beach, eventually ending up at the crime scene after getting directions from Womack. Early in the morning on Aug. 7, he met Scott’s girlfriend a few blocks away from the crime scene. Womack gave her Scott’s phone. Womack admitted his involvement in the robbery to Scott’s girlfriend and provided her with details only known to the suspects and police. Womack was arrested a few days later in Franklin.

He has several prior traffic infractions on his record. At the time of this incident, he was on a deferred finding in Franklin for assault and battery of a family member.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Nickie Herron and James Panagis prosecuted this case.