Norfolk man convicted of attempting to murder Exmore Police Chief

By Linda Cicoira

A Norfolk man, who admitted to leading a crime spree across the Eastern Shore of Virginia in 2023, was convicted Monday in Northampton Circuit Court of attempting to murder Exmore Police Chief Angelo DiMartino, using a gun in the crime, and abducting a Kiptopeke Royal Farms worker.

“I wasn’t arrested,” 33-year-old Brandon Theophilus Gibson, of Lens Avenue, testified. “I was rescued.”

The defendant said that since he was five years old, he had been taking the prescription drug Adderall, a stimulant used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. After his doctor retired, he started smoking marijuana and using illicit Adderall, which he said was similar to methamphetamine.

“I wanted to die,” Gibson said. “I was in a dark spiral. I was hanging on a thread that … gradually elevated over a few months. I never had the intention to shoot an officer. I wanted to shoot myself. I don’t hate officers … I understand how it may look …”

After spending a year in jail and being drug-free, he said he felt “tremendously” better. “I honestly have them to thank,” he said of the police. Now, “I am on no medicine at all and I have the clearest mindset in my whole life.”

Another charge of abduction and a count of attempted murder of Lt. Steve Lewis of the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office were dismissed.

According to testimony, Gibson got Lewis’ gun and pointed it in different instances at both Lewis and DiMartino. He said he was only interested in killing himself. Several of the officers said they heard him say repeatedly, “Kill me. Shoot Me.”

Gibson pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery, disarming an officer, felony eluding,

assaulting an officer, possession of a firearm by a violent felon, felony obstruction of justice, and reckless driving by speed of more than 85 mph. Those charges alone could mean life in prison.

Gibson committed other robberies in the Hampton Roads area, but the series here began at the Royal Farms, just north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Gibson said he went inside to the bathroom and then cased the store on Dec. 7, 2023, before pulling a knife on a kitchen worker and ordering him to go to the cash register for money.

From there, Gibson and his accomplice went to the Hampton Inn in Exmore where Gibson robbed an employee at knifepoint of personal belongings and $10 worth of company money.

The two continued their spree up the Shore through Accomack County to Pocomoke, Md. Then they went back down Route 13 to Exmore, where Gibson crashed, striking two cars and a bus of special needs passengers.

Lt. Lewis was right behind the getaway car. He opened the driver’s door and found Gibson inside with the airbags deployed. The two tussled with Gibson managing to get Lewis’ gun. Lewis had him in a headlock when several other officers piled on top of them. DiMartino used a stun gun on Gibson, who had his finger on the trigger of the weapon. In the end, a dog was set on Gibson and bit him on the arm.

Judge Lynwood W. Lewis Jr. ordered a long-form presentence report. Sentencing was set for Oct. 27.

“Gibson was coming off a meth bender and lack of sleep,” said Judge Lewis. The officers were clear-headed.” The judge added, “No one saw him put the gun to his head, and ultimately he found a way to get his finger on the trigger.”

The evidence is clear, ” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Jack Thornton. “The video is clear,” he added. “The Miracle of God is that nobody is dead.”

    Defense lawyer Andre Wiggins said, “There were seven in the dogpile. That’s a lot of hands and arms. How could you not have a doubt” that Gibson was attempting murder?