Virginia Beach police charge teen injured in Mt. Trashmore shooting with murder

VIRGINIA BEACH — Police Chief Paul Neudigate announced Thursday that murder charges have been filed against a man injured in last month's shooting outside the Mount Trashmore Summer Carnival that resulted in the death of a 15-year-old girl.

Markal Dashawn Cook — who was 18 at the time and has since turned 19 — is now charged with second-degree murder and unlawful use of a firearm, Neudigate said. Previously, he had only been charged with carrying a concealed handgun without a permit. Cook is being held without bail in the city jail.

Killed in the shooting was Jeyani Renee Upshur, who died from a gunshot wound to the head and neck. Neudigate said Thursday that police had no evidence that Cook knew the teen. The chief declined to say what evidence led to the enhanced charges, but said police worked around the clock to solve the case.

Cook's attorney, Senior Deputy Public Defender Matt Cramer, declined to comment on the new charges.

Cook was seriously injured in the incident and was hospitalized before being transferred to the prison. Detectives believe another shooter shot Cook, Neudigate said, but that person has not been identified.

The chief said investigators are still having trouble convincing witnesses to cooperate or come forward. The carnival was crowded that evening, he said, and police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or recorded video to come forward.

Cook was seen on video pulling out a handgun and shooting at a gathering of people in a parking lot near the carnival, according to court documents. The incident happened around 8:30 p.m. on May 25, and nearby officers were on scene less than a minute after the first call, Neudigate said.