Court documents reveal details of suspected Mount Trashmore shooter's criminal history

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Markal Cook, 18, of Norfolk, has been in custody at the Virginia Beach City Jail since his arrest May 29 in connection with a shooting in Mount Trashmore.

And while he proclaims his innocenceVirginia Beach police say they have video of him firing a handgun into a crowd on May 25. This incident led to the death of 15-year-old Jeyani Upshur.

Cook, who was also struck by gunfire during the altercation, is not accused of shooting anyone. Instead, he was charged with possession of a concealed weapon – third offense, which is a felony.

Now, court documents shed light on his two previous concealed weapons charges.

If the evidence police have is correct and he fired a gun on May 25, the documents also show this incident would not be the first time he fired a gun into a crowd .

On November 20, 2021, Cook was arrested by police with approximately 10 other juveniles near the 1000 block of East Indian River Road in Norfolk.

“While talking to Cook (an officer), he asked him to lift his jacket. Cook lifted his jacket while holding something in both pockets,” reads a police affidavit describing the incident. “When Cook pulled down his jacket, he bent down to his waist in an attempt to hide what he had.”

Officers ultimately discovered two handguns in his pockets – a Taurus G2C 9mm and a Glock 16 9mm – as well as a 31-round extended magazine. One of the guns was identified as stolen in August 2021.

He was initially charged with theft/receiving a stolen firearm, minor in possession of a handgun or assault rifle, and two counts of carrying a concealed weapon in connection with this incident. It is unclear whether he was convicted of any of the charges.

Less than two years later, on July 6, 2023, Cook was arrested in connection with a shooting that left one person seriously injured in Norfolk. Court documents describe that police saw him “run away from the area of ​​gunfire, jump the fence, then re-enter the area.”

“(He) was ordered to stop and appeared to repeatedly attempt to walk past his pants while in custody and physically struggled with the officers,” it reads. “A firearm was found hidden in front of his pants. …Approximately 30 to 40 rounds of ammunition were recovered at the scene and the defendant admitted to firing during the incident, although he claimed he fired in self-defense.

Cook was charged with obstruction of justice, carrying a concealed weapon and trespassing after prohibition. He had already been banned from all Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority properties.

On August 25, 2023, he pleaded guilty to the charges and received a 12-month suspended prison sentence for each of them.

Just ten days earlier, police had again discovered a gun in his waistband.

“The accused told police that he was given the handgun for protection in the neighborhood,” reads a court document relating to the incident.

“The accused also has no criminal history; however, he is waiting for the same accusation that happened a month ago,” he continues.

He was charged with carrying a concealed weapon on November 6, 2023 and sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for all but four months.

In January 2024, Cook was arrested again – this time for “failing to report to jail on 11/16/23 for an underlying concealed carry violation,” according to court documents. He was arrested while on the street during school hours.

“He did not seem to understand that he had to serve 5 to 6 days in jail,” court documents state.

On March 14, Cook was arrested for violating the trespass order that barred him from NRHA property.

“Officers observed the defendant exit the vehicle into Oakleaf Forest where he is prohibited,” a court document states.

“The defendant cooperated with the officers and the magistrate,” he explains – a theme repeated in several arrest documents.

Before the Mount Trashmore incident, Cook was apparently last arrested in Norfolk in April for missing a court date related to a trespassing charge.

During a jailhouse interview on June 5, Cook told 10 on Your Side that he did not know any of the participants in the Mount Trashmore shooting.

“Yes, I'm charged with possession of a concealed weapon, but at the scene I didn't have any weapons on me,” he told 10 On Your Side, reiterating that he was only there to spend time with his cousin and his girlfriend.