College Senior, 22, Dies After Friend Allegedly Shoots Her While Showing Off Gun in Waffle House Parking Lot

A night out with friends ended in tragedy after a 22-year-old college senior was fatally shot in the parking lot of a Waffle House in Virginia. Police say the shooting happened when a young man allegedly showed her a firearm while the group was spending time together. The incident is being investigated as an accidental shooting, but the man has been charged in connection with her death.

Matthew B. Croslin, 23, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless handling of a firearm following the death of Semaj Richelle Coleman, a senior at Norfolk State University. The shooting occurred late on October 24, 2026, at a Waffle House on East Virginia Beach Boulevard in Norfolk, according to authorities and court documents cited by local media.

Investigators said Coleman and Croslin were among a group of friends gathered outside the restaurant. According to the criminal complaint, the two were talking about firearms when Croslin allegedly took out his gun to show it to her. The weapon discharged, striking Coleman in the chest. Witnesses reportedly told police that no argument or physical confrontation had taken place before the gun went off.

After the shooting, Croslin allegedly attempted to help Coleman before driving her to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. He reportedly alerted an officer that there was a gunshot victim in the vehicle. Medical staff treated Coleman for a life-threatening injury, but she later died. Police were notified of her arrival at the hospital at approximately 11:45 p.m.

Norfolk police said their preliminary investigation indicated that the shooting was accidental. However, authorities emphasized that the circumstances are still being investigated. Prosecutors have charged Croslin because the alleged handling of the firearm may have involved criminally reckless conduct, even if the shooting was not intentional.

Coleman was studying health services management at Norfolk State University. The school described her as an engaged member of its campus community who had participated in the Spartans Promise to Persist with Purpose program. She had also recently been inducted into the National Association for Allied Health Professions, marking an important milestone in her academic journey.

News of Coleman’s death has left classmates, friends and loved ones mourning a young woman whose future was cut short. Norfolk State University expressed condolences to her family and the wider university community and made counseling and support services available to students affected by the loss.

Croslin is being held at the Norfolk City Jail without bond, and his next court date is scheduled for November 2, 2026. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The case serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly a firearm can cause irreversible harm when handled carelessly, even among people who know one another.

Sources: Law&Crime