The May 23 case moved from a Blackwood Avenue home to Fat Philly’s and then to a running vehicle.
NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk police said a Saturday morning domestic dispute led to a deadly shooting inside Fat Philly’s, where a woman was killed before the suspected gunman was later found dead.
The case drew a large police response across Norfolk and left three people shot in separate but connected scenes. Police said a 45-year-old man survived his injuries, a woman died at the restaurant and the suspected shooter died from a self-inflicted wound.
The first call came around 8:13 a.m. May 23 from the 3100 block of Blackwood Avenue. Police said officers were sent there for a domestic dispute involving a stepson and stepfather. They found a 45-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound that was not life-threatening. He was taken to a hospital for treatment. By then, police said, the suspect was gone.
At about 8:38 a.m., officers were called to Fat Philly’s in the 2700 block of Azalea Garden Road for a report of a gunshot victim. Inside the business, police found a woman with a life-threatening wound. She died at the scene. Investigators said the suspect arrived at the restaurant and had an altercation with the employee before the shooting occurred.
Norfolk Police Chief Mark Talbot said investigators were still trying to learn whether the suspect and the woman knew each other. Talbot said police were not searching for any additional suspects. Authorities had not publicly identified the woman, the injured man or the suspect by Saturday’s initial updates.
The final police response came after officers were sent to a report of a vehicle left running in a roadway. Police said they found the suspected gunman suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead. The department described the case as an active investigation.
The shooting shook people who knew the restaurant and the woman who worked there. Howard Tessier, who lives nearby, said she was known by many customers. He said she was “very helpful” and often greeted people as they entered the business.
Police said more updates would be shared as they become available. As of the latest public statement, investigators had not released a motive, the identities of those involved or whether any formal case report had been completed.
Author note: Last updated May 24, 2026.