Man sentenced to 26 years for murder captured on Norfolk Ring doorbell video

On March 22, 45-year-old Johnnie Warner III was handed a 26-year prison sentence for first-degree murder and use of a firearm during a felony. This sentencing follows the guilty verdict returned in September 2023 for a murder that took place in January 2022. The sentencing was announced after the court proceedings in Chesapeake, Virginia.

The crime that led to this sentencing took place on Jan. 26, 2022, in the South Norfolk section of the city. Officers were dispatched to the 2500 block of Lanier Street around 6:45 p.m. where they found 42-year-old Lavance Flora suffering from a gunshot wound. The details of the incident provided context for the severity of the charges against Warner.

The investigation that followed was brisk. The police were able to recover video footage from a ring doorbell that showed Warner shooting the victim four times. This discovery solidified the charges against Warner and played an integral role in the guilty verdict that was returned in September 2023.

Lavance Flora, the victim of this crime, is survived by his lifelong partner, Amber Warner. He also left behind two sons, Lavance Flora Jr. and Elija Flora. In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by his brother, Dormance Flora, and many other loved ones. The loss of their loved one under these tragic circumstances has left the family and the community in a state of grief.

This case serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of violent crimes and the justice that can be served to the perpetrators. Despite the tragic loss, the sentencing of Johnnie Warner III to 26 years in prison for the murder of Lavance Flora has, at the very least, provided some form of closure for the bereaved family and the community.