Bruce Hisle received a 38-year prison sentence for fatally shooting an innocent convenience store owner during a street dispute in Norfolk, Virginia. The sentence exceeded guidelines, reflecting the severity of his reckless gunfire.
Incident Overview
On December 20, 2023, outside the Triple-C store on Lindenwood Avenue, Hisle argued with a drunk man over his trench coat while selling liquor from a van with his brother Dennis and Tamika Credle. Store owner James Robert Carter, 84, intervened to de-escalate, but Hisle fired a stolen 10mm handgun from the van’s front, killing Carter with shots to the torso and face and wounding a bystander.
Investigation and Arrest
Witnesses noted gunfire from Hisle’s position; one followed the fleeing van, providing its license plate for a quick arrest. Police recovered the matching handgun and ammo from the glovebox, with forensics linking it to casings, bullets, and Carter’s autopsy. Initially suspecting Dennis, evidence pinpointed Bruce as the shooter.
Trial and Convictions
A jury convicted Bruce in July 2025 of felony homicide, second-degree murder, malicious wounding, and related firearm charges after a three-day trial. Dennis pleaded to firearm offenses, receiving 4 years plus suspension; he got extra time for refusing to testify. Credle, convicted as an accessory after her recorded statements implicating Bruce, served 6 months.
Sentencing and Impact
Sentenced January 23, 2026, by Judge Scott, Hisle’s term surpassed the 29-year guideline maximum. Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi praised it as closure for Carter’s family, honoring the beloved community figure who “didn’t have a bad bone in his body” and died trying to keep peace.
