VCU basketball forward, student both found not guilty on simple assault charges

KATRINA LEE News Editor

VCU basketball forward Jalen DeLoach was found not guilty on simple assault charges he was arrested on last month. Taylor Cook, the student who reported the assault, was also found not guilty for simple assault in connection to the case, according to the Virginia Judiciary online court system.

Arnold Henderson, DeLoach’s attorney, stated in an email that he was “pleased” with the not guilty verdict and that DeLoach is able to move forward with his c ollegiate experience.

“It is unfortunate that persons who are well known in a particular community sometimes are faced with situations and allegations that can potentially derail their future,” Henderson stated. “Jalen and the many eyewitnesses to this event may now continue to focus on their academic and athletic pursuits at VCU.”

VCU police received a report of the assault on Feb. 20 at around 12:57 a.m. Cook, 18, reported that she was assaulted in the off-campus student apartment complex of 8 ½ West Canal Street at around midnight of Feb. 19, according to VCUPD Spokesperson Corey Byers on March 3. The apartment complex is owned by American Campus Communities.

Cook was served with an outstanding warrant for simple assault the next day, according to Byers.

VCU Public Relations declined to comment on the verdicts for both DeLoach and Cook.

Patricia Mills, a spokesperson for RISC, advocated for GVI at the event on Tuesday, and said it has proven to cut homicides in half and is the “opposite of over-policing.”

“The traditional way of over-policing involves harassing and over-policing the entire community where violence takes place. GVI on the other hand recognizes that it’s only a small number of people in that community that are connected to the violence,” Mills said. “So instead of over-policing the entire community, GVI focuses on the small group of people and provides them with a much needed intervention.”

RISC co-president Pastor Ralph Hodge said the community could “sense the tension” leading up to the increase in homicides since 2020, the highest number of deaths related to gun violence in Richmond since 2004.

Correction

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