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Portsmouth police identify shooting suspect, victim as active duty military member

The Portsmouth Police Department said 23-year-old Donald Thorington from Michigan fell victim to a deadly shooting Sunday night.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A deadly shooting that involved two U.S. Navy sailors who were friends might have stemmed from an argument at a house party, according to court documents. 

Detectives with the Portsmouth Police Department's Major Crimes Unit have identified 23-year-old Donald Thorington from Michigan as the victim in the deadly shooting.

On Sunday, May 5, police received a 911 call around 9:29 p.m. for medical assistance in the 1300 block of Atlanta Avenue.

When police arrived, they found the victim with a gunshot wound to his torso. Medics took him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Detectives identified 21-year-old Dalen O. Spence as the suspect.

Court documents said a witness told police Spence fired gunshots after Thorington put his hands on his neck and said "what are you going to do with the gun."

Thorington was shot outside the house after an argument spilled from inside during a party, according to a search warrant filed in Portsmouth Circuit Court.

"He was a very, very intelligent person," said Lance Hill, a family friend of the victim.

Hill told 13News Now that Thorington had a bright future. Navy officials said he was third class petty officer who completed nuclear power training school and served on USS George Washington. He recently moved off base. 

"He was getting to know more people and settling in," Hill said. "And he kind of liked being off base but he commented how dangerous the area was there."

Spence, who is also active duty military, was an Aviation Ordnanceman and served on USS George H.W. Bush. 

He is now charged with first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

If anyone has information, they are asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.

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