31-05-2025
VB: Traffic safety officer, eyewitness testify in fatal hit-and-run case
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A man charged in a fatal hit-and-run earlier this year was back in court Thursday, hoping for a judge to reconsider the conditions of his bond, but that request was denied.
Michael Shippy is accused of hitting and killing Thomas Moore, 63, along Bonney Road in the early hours of Jan. 31. He faces multiple charges, including felony hit-and-run and DUI.
In court, two witnesses testified before a Virginia Beach judge: a traffic safety officer and a man who witnessed the moments leading up to Moore's death.
The eyewitness, whose identity is being withheld for privacy, said he was driving home from work around 1:30 a.m. when he spotted Moore lying on the right side of Bonney Road, a two-way road. He said Moore appeared conscious and responded faintly when he asked if he was OK.
According to the eyewitness, he did not step out of the vehicle during this time for safety reasons.
Moments later, the witness told the court he saw a black SUV approach. That's when he heard a loud 'smack.' He called 911 and repositioned his car in front of Moore's body to shield it from other drivers.
He testified that he watched the SUV stop briefly at a red light at the intersection of Bonney Road and Rosemont Road before turning and leaving the area.
A Virginia Beach police officer who specializes in traffic investigations said officers later tracked the SUV back to Shippy, who claimed he had been at a bar that night with his girlfriend but denied driving on Bonney Road the night of the incident.
However, during a search of the vehicle, officers found reddish-brown smears beneath the SUV and navy-blue fibers matching the description of Moore's clothing. Swabs were sent off for testing to determine whether the stains were human remains. Officers also recovered several zip-top baggies containing cocaine.
Four of Shippy's supporters were present in court, including his mother, who became visibly emotional. She told 10 On Your Side that her son 'isn't a murderer' but declined to comment further.
Shippy remains in jail. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 30.
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