A 19-year-old Virginia woman is facing an involuntary manslaughter charge after a 26-year-old man was fatally shot during a consensual encounter involving firearms that investigators characterized in court as a game of “Russian roulette.”
Ember McSpadden allegedly pulled the trigger of a partially loaded handgun three times while counting the clicks before the firearm discharged and struck Shane Brooks in the neck, WAVY-TV reported.
The March 5 shooting was initially described by Virginia Beach police as an “unintended firearm discharge.” Details about what investigators believe happened inside the room emerged later through court testimony.
Investigators describe events leading up to the shooting
According to reports citing court documents and testimony, Brooks allegedly handed McSpadden a firearm containing one live round while the pair were engaged in consensual foreplay involving guns and knives.
A lead Virginia Beach detective described their relationship in court as a “friends with benefits” arrangement, according to 13News Now.
Brooks’ family disputed any suggestion that the pair were dating and said they did not know McSpadden.
Investigators said McSpadden told them that the revolver’s cylinder would be spun and then checked to ensure it was not positioned on the live round.
During the final exchange, however, the lead detective testified that McSpadden pulled the trigger multiple times before the firearm discharged, striking Brooks in the neck.
The incident happened during the early morning hours of March 5.
At approximately 1:09 a.m., Virginia Beach emergency dispatchers received a report of a shooting in the 2600 block of Virginia Beach Boulevard.
Responding officers found Brooks suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Seven firearms found in the room
Investigators discovered seven guns inside the room where Brooks died, according to testimony reported by 13News Now.
Among them were two revolvers found on the bed.
One of the firearms was identified as the weapon involved in Brooks’ death and contained one cartridge case in the chamber, according to the station.
Police initially referred to the shooting as an “unintended firearm discharge.” McSpadden, a Virginia Beach resident, was later arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Further details surrounding the incident became public during subsequent court proceedings, where prosecutors presented testimony from a lead Virginia Beach detective and a forensic specialist.
Judge sends case to grand jury
McSpadden, who had been released on bond, appeared at a preliminary hearing Friday.
After hearing the evidence presented, a judge determined there was sufficient evidence for the involuntary manslaughter charge to proceed to a grand jury.
McSpadden’s attorney, Artisha Gregg, maintains that Brooks’ death was an accident that her client neither intended nor anticipated.
“This incident is a tragedy that my client deeply regrets, as evidenced by her emotional reaction during our hearing today,” Gregg said in a statement.
“As the evidence presented in court demonstrated, this was a tragic accident that my client had no intention or foresight would occur,” she added.
If convicted of involuntary manslaughter, McSpadden faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 21.
Brooks’ family seeks justice
Brooks’ relatives said listening to the circumstances of his death being detailed in court was painful.
“There’s nothing we wouldn’t give to have him back,” his brother, Hunter Brooks, said. “We wouldn’t even care about going through this, if we could just have him back, even for a little bit longer.”
“And as that won’t happen, we obviously want to go through the court process and see a conviction at trial,” he added.
Brooks’ mother, Penny Brooks, also said the family wants accountability.
“We just want justice for Shane,” she said.
“We’d do anything to have him back, but, yeah, it’s just a lot to process being in there.”
Family remembers Brooks’ military service and life in Virginia Beach
According to his obituary, Brooks was a lifelong Virginia Beach resident and a graduate of Old Dominion University.
He served for roughly a decade in the Virginia National Guard, where he reached the rank of staff sergeant. His military service included a nine-month tour in Iraq.
Brooks was also a marathon runner, licensed pilot and outdoorsman.
His family remembered him as “the glue that held our family together,” while members of his running community organized a memorial run in his honor.
A GoFundMe established to help pay for Brooks’ funeral and memorial expenses had raised $31,628 toward a $35,000 goal.