Sailor Charged With Murder of Another Sailor
Doland Alton Thorington, left, shot by Dalen Spence right. (Thorington Family/ Portsmouth Police Department)
A Sailor is charged with the murder of another sailor. Dalen Spence shot Donald Alton Thorington. When questioned, he claimed that he shot Thorington in self-defense. However, the detectives that interviewed him believe that he had room to escape any danger that Thorington may have presented.
Thorington’s friends tried to do CPR on him after the shooting. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
From the Navy Times:
A case summary drafted by Portsmouth Police Department Detective W.J. Baker begins with a verbal argument that erupted inside the residence and soon turned physical.
The alleged instigators were asked to leave but the spat followed them outside, where “the argument intensified and there was a lot of yelling and punches were being thrown by both sides,” Baker wrote.
Standing on the sidewalk, Thorington was jawing with Harrison White, a 20-year-old Norfolk resident who attended the party. Thorington told White “to come to him,” Baker wrote, but before he could comply Spence stepped in front of him and “pulled his gun out of the holster” and pointed it at the bodybuilder.
You could read what happens between the above account and the rush to the hospital in this Navy Times article. Spence is currently on bond and is allowed to report for duty with the Navy.
Category: Navy
https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/portsmouth/navy-sailor-claims-self-defense-in-shooting-death-of-fellow-service-member/
It’s not a very flattering portrait of Mr. Spence in this article.
It appears in addition to murdering people at parties during arguments he might be involved in selling some narcotics as a side gig…allegedly that is.
Thorington, the victim, was a weightlifter standing 6’1″ and weighing 270 pounds. He was 9″ taller and over 120 pounds heavier than Spence, the shooter. More than likely, Thorington was liquored up and jaw jackin’ when Spence shot him. Spence could’ve and should’ve walked away, but there might be a sliver of reasonable doubt about whether he thought his life or the lives of others was in danger. Lately it seems the greatest threat to sailors is from their fellow sailors.
“…greatest threat to sailors is from their fellow sailors.” Seems that way. The article linked to two other articles of sailors killing sailors. Drugs and/or alcohol? Jealousy? Playing stupid games to win stupid prizes?
Someone 9″ taller and 120 lbs heavier would be a threat to me too. You gotta know when to walk away.
If I’m on a jury. pretty much short of an eyewitness saying the guy who got shot was actively backing up and disengaging I’d believe the guy who shot him.
If some huge dude if whupping up on or threatening to do you bodily harm you can defend yourself using whatever means necessary.
Thugs gonna be thugs. And I’m talking about both sides……