Lillian Boyd
Democrat Ralph Northam holds a 6-point lead over Republican Ed Gillespie in the race for Virginia’s next governor, according to a survey released this morning by the Wason Center at Christopher Newport University. The survey also shows strong support for Northam in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, while Gillespie’s strongest support is in the rural South-Southwest region as well as in the Richmond-Central Virginia area. Libertarian Candidate Cliff Hyra polled at 4 percent, with 8 percent undecided.
Franklin County officials are investigating the death of a one-year-old child. Emergency personnel were called to a Rocky Mount home yesterday morning after reports of an unresponsive child. Paramedics attempted CPR but were unable to revive baby. The child’s body has been taken to the medical examiner’s office.
A 28-year-old former Carilion Clinic nurse will spend 18 months in prison for taking a syringe, full of the opioid fentanyl, from a drug cart while on the clock. Kevin Carter of Roanoke allegedly replaced the syringe with an empty one. Coworkers reported the December 2016 incident was reported to supervisors.
Convenience Store Security Footage 1
From a Roanoke County Police Department News Release: Roanoke County Police Criminal Investigations Division is investigating a felony credit card fraud, in which the suspect utilized a cloned credit card at a convenience store in the 4000 block of Electric Rd. The incident occurred on 8/17/2017. The suspect is described as a tall, slender, medium-complected male with a beard. He arrived and left in a light colored compact sedan, possibly a Toyota Corolla or Toyota Camry. The suspect may also be related to other credit card fraud incidents that have occurred in Roanoke County. Photos of the suspect and suspect vehicle are attached. Anyone with information regarding the identity of the suspect is asked to call Roanoke County Police, 540-562-3265.
Authorities are looking into several burglaries that occurred in Northwest Roanoke. Police were sent to the Quick Mart on the 5-thousand block of Melrose Avenue Sunday morning, after someone reportedly threw a rock through the glass door to gain entry and take cash from the register. Police say they were later dispatched to Star Auto Sales on Peters Creek Road. According to a news release, it had appeared a suspect had gained access to the business on Sunday around noon by kicking in a door. The owner reported money and other items were taken. Authorties say they were dispatched within the hour to Star Auto Sales on Peters Creek Road. It allegedly appeared a suspect had gained access to the business on Sunday around noon by kicking in a door. The owner reported money and other items were taken.
Quick Mart security footage
Quick Mart security footage
Best Auto Sales security footage of suspect
Best Auto Sales security footage of a second suspect
Roanoke police are investigating a vandalized Confederate monument in downtown. The Robert E. Lee monument on Church Avenue near Lee Plaza has the words “Rest in Power, Heather Heyer” spray painted. Heyer was a counter-protester who was killed last month at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. Authorities believe the vandalism occurred sometime between 7 pm last night and 4:47 this morning, when it was reported. The monument is now covered in a tarp.
The man charged with killing the Lyon sisters more than 40 years ago entered guilty pleas yesterday in Bedford County Court. Lloyd Welch Junior was then sentenced to 48 years in prison. Welch is accused of kidnapping the 10 and 12-year-old sisters from a Washington D.C.-area shopping mall, then burning their bodies in Bedford County. The girls’ remains were never recovered.
Thomas Road Baptist Church Pastor Jonathan Falwell and his wife returned home after riding out Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean last week. The Falwells landed in Puerto Rico on Friday with the help of Samaritan’s Purse, according to the pastor’s tweet. The organization had sent relief to the island of St. Martin – where the couple had stayed to celebrate their anniversary. Pastor Falwell spoke yesterday on his experiences staying in the shelter during the Category 5 storm.
President Trump will end the the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program – unless Congress enacts legislation in the next six months. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions delivered the message about “DACA” this morning. The Obama-era program shields young immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children from deportation. Roanoke Valley Immigration Attorney Christine Poarch weighs in on how that affects the local level of politics. More from WFIR’s Lillian Boyd
Officials in Roanoke will consider renaming Stonewall Jackson Middle School — the city’s only remaining school named after a Confederate general. School board Chairwoman Annette Lewis said a committee is being formed to address the matter.