Web Staff
Richmond-The Virginia Department of Corrections is investigating the death of an inmate that occurred at Red Onion State Prison on August 24, 2023.
At approximately 2:37 p.m., an inmate reported to staff that his cell partner fell out of his top bunk bed. Staff entered the cell and found the cell partner unresponsive, which prompted staff to perform lifesaving efforts. The unresponsive inmate was transported to Dickenson Community Hospital and at 3:57 p.m. was pronounced deceased. This incident is being investigated by the VADOC’s Special Investigations Unit.
Brian Reep
UPDATED NEWS RELEASE: Roanoke Police have arrested Brian S. Reep, 41 of Roanoke, and charged him with Malicious Wounding regarding this incident.
Reep was identified as a suspect throughout the course of the investigation. He was taken into custody this afternoon without incident. Thank you to personnel from the Star City Drug and Violent Crime Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force for assisting in locating and apprehending Reep.
PREVIOUS: Roanoke Police are investigating after three people were injured during a shooting in the 3800 block of Williamson Road near WR Brews early this morning. Authorities say two people were able to drive themselves to the hospital and the other was taken by an ambulance. There was a gun-related murder outside the WR Brews Restaurant in October 2019.
NEWS RELEASE: On August 25, 2023 at approximately 1:15 a.m., Roanoke Police were notified by the City of Roanoke E-911 Center of reports of multiple people with gunshot wounds at a business in the 3800 block of Williamson Road NW. Responding officers located an adult male victim with what appeared to be a non-life-threatening gunshot wound on scene. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the man to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment.
While on scene, officers were notified that two additional victims – an adult female with what appeared to be a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and an adult male with what appeared to be a serious gunshot wound – had arrived at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital via personal vehicle. Officers confirmed that these two additional victims were injured during the shooting in the 3800 block of Williamson Road NW.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a male subject was involved in a verbal altercation that became physical inside the business. The man left the business and returned a short time later. The altercation continued outside of the business, then escalated to a shooting. No suspects were located on scene. Detectives and officers are working to locate the suspect to further their investigation.
Further details about what led to this shooting are limited at this time. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call (540)344-8500 and share what you know. You can also text us at 274637; please begin the text with “RoanokePD” to ensure it’s properly sent. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous.
From Roanoke County Public Schools:
Currently, phone lines are down for all schools and buildings in Roanoke County Public Schools. Alternative numbers have been established so parents can reach schools for urgent messages.
Back Creek Elementary: (540) 776-7144
Bonsack Elementary: (540) 977-5879
Burlington Elementary: (540) 561-8162
BCAT: (540) 857-5061
Cave Spring Elementary: (540) 776-7145
Cave Spring Middle: (540) 772-2195
Cave Spring High: (540) 772-2107
Clearbrook Elementary: (540) 776-7148
Fort Lewis Elementary: (540) 387-6348
Glen Cove Elementary: (540) 561-8164
Glenvar Elementary: (540) 387-6351
Glenvar Middle: (540) 387-6283
Glenvar High: (540) 387-6347
Green Valley Elementary: (540) 776-7149
Herman L. Horn Elementary: (540) 857-5062
Hidden Valley Middle: (540) 772-7519
Hidden Valley High: (540) 776-7322
Masons Cove Elementary: (540) 387-6995
Mount Pleasant Elementary: (540) 427-5779
Mountain View Elementary: (540) 561-8167
Northside Middle: (540) 561-8152
Northside High: (540) 561-8160
Oak Grove Elementary: (540) 776-7150
Penn Forest Elementary: (540) 776-7151
W.E Cundiff Elementary: (540) 857-5065
William Byrd Middle: (540) 890-0703
William Byrd High: (540) 890-7568
Please use these numbers for urgent messages only. When regular phone service is restored, we will send an update.
This year, eight schools in Roanoke County will be providing free meals to all students through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) as implemented through the federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.
Schools participating in CEP this year are:
Burlington Elementary
Herman L. Horn Elementary
Masons Cove Elementary
Mount Pleasant Elementary
Mountain View Elementary
Northside High
Northside Middle
W.E. Cundiff Elementary
All students attending a CEP school will be provided a nutritious breakfast and lunch meal each day at no cost. Households with students attending these schools will not be required to submit a meal application or to pay a fee for these students to receive meals.
All other schools will continue with the school meals program as in previous years. Roanoke County Public Schools encourages parents at these schools to consider applying for free and reduced meals, even if they think they may not qualify. Applications can be completed online athttps://linqconnect.com.
Meal prices for the 2023-2024 school year will be as follows:
Daily Lunch
Student: $3.00
Adult: $4.75
Breakfast
Student: $1.50
Adult: $2.75
Milk: $0.50
For the 2023-2024 school year, reduced-price meal costs will be waived.
On August 6, 2023 at approximately 1:25 a.m., Roanoke Police were notified by the City of Roanoke E-911 Center of shots fired in the area of 8th Street and Gilmer Avenue NW. Responding officers searched the immediate area, eventually locating an adult male with what appeared to be serious gunshot wounds outside of a residence in the 900 block of Gilmer Avenue NW. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the man to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment.
No arrests have been made at this time regarding this incident. This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call (540)344-8500 and share what you know. You can also text us at 274637; please begin the text with “RoanokePD” to ensure it’s properly sent. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous.
Photo: Fireup611 Facebook
NEWS RELEASE: August 2, 2023 — The Virginia Museum of Transportation, Inc. (VMT) and the Virginia Scenic Railway (VSR) are excited to jointly announce that the Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 steam passenger locomotive will be operating a series of specially scheduled passenger excursions later this fall within the Commonwealth of Virginia. The sleek and powerful Class J locomotives, designed and built in Roanoke by the Norfolk & Western Railway, were widely hailed as the finest steam passenger locomotives in the world. The 1950 Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 is the sole surviving member of fourteen Class J locomotives produced and is owned and operated by VMT as a traveling exhibit, showcasing the legacy and craftmanship of Virginia’s railroad workers. The 611 will remain in Roanoke for preparation and maintenance and its annual Federal Railway Administration inspections. Following that work, public excursions behind 611 on the VSR track will begin.
The VSR is delighted to host these 611 excursions, which will be operating twice daily as the Shenandoah Valley Limited throughout October and November 2023. Upon boarding the train in Goshen, Virginia, guests will travel eastward through the fall foliage of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, into the rolling hills of the Shenandoah Valley where the train will pause without disembarking, to be joined by a pair of diesel locomotives for the return trip back to Goshen. We are delighted to help make this run possible,” says Steve Powell, President of the Virginia Scenic Railway. “We love trains and railroad history, and we look forward to partnering with the Virginia Museum of Transportation to host the legendary 611 and bring the steam engine roaring to life in the Shenandoah Valley. This is one of the prettiest routes around, and we are excited to share it.”
Tickets will be available for purchase by the general public in mid-August via Virginia Scenic Railway’s website (virginiascenicrailway.com). Seating options will include Coach, Premium Coach, First Class, and Dome Classes, ranging from $99.00 to $249.00 per seat. Sign up on VSR’s or VMT’s (vmt.org) website to be among the first to know when tickets are available. “We are excited for the opportunity to partner with Virginia Scenic Railway. These excursions will have a major tourism impact on the region and showcase Virginia’s Rail Heritage to visitors near and far.” said
Mendy Flynn, Executive Director of the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
611’s Excursion Schedule
The Shenandoah Valley Limited will depart at 9:00 AM and 2:30 PM on the following dates:
▪ October 6 – 8
▪ October 13 – 15
▪ October 20 – 22
▪ October 27 – 2 9
▪ November 3 – 5
On July 30, 2023 at approximately 9:00 a.m., Roanoke Police were notified of a person with a gunshot wound in the 600 block of King George Avenue SW. Responding officers located an adult male victim inside a vehicle with what appeared to be a critical gunshot wound. Roanoke Fire-EMS personnel arrived and pronounced the victim deceased on scene.
Details about what led to this shooting are limited. No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been made at this time. This is an ongoing homicide investigation. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call (540)344-8500 and share what you know. You can also text us at 274637; please begin the text with “RoanokePD” to ensure it’s properly sent. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous.
A driver suffering from gunshot wounds received first-aid before ultimately being sent to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Roanoke Police say the victim was discovered in a car just after 11 pm last night near Gilmer Rd. and Gainesboro Ave. NW. Authorities believe the shooting happened in the 2000 block of Liberty Rd. NW. No arrests have been made so far.
From Roanoke Police Department 7/18/23 — On July 17 at approximately 11:07 P.M, officers encountered a vehicle driver near Gilmer Rd. and Gainesboro Ave. NW suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers immediately administered first aid to control bleeding until Roanoke Fire and EMS arrived to assume care of the victim. The victim was transported to RMH for treatment of non-life threatening wounds. Officers determined that the location of the incident to be in the 2000 block of Liberty Rd NW. No arrests have been made at this time. The investigation is in its early stages and is ongoing.
MGN
NEWS RELEASE: The Virginia State Police investigation remains ongoing into the fatal officer-involved shooting in Clifton Forge, Va. Friday afternoon (June 30, 2023).
The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Salem Field Office is investigating the incident at the request of the Clifton Forge Police Chief. Once state police concludes its investigation, the criminal investigative findings will be turned over to the Commonwealth’s Attorney for final review and adjudication.
Updated on July 1st: The victim has been identified as Christopher Illes Csorba, 33 years old of Roanoke.
Previously post on June 28th: At around 5:00pm on Tuesday, June 27th, 2023, the Franklin County E911 Center received a call for a deceased body located in the Hardy area of the Roanoke River. Units from various agencies responded to the scene. An unidentified victim was located in the water and has been transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Roanoke. Information is limited at this time pending results from the autopsy. This remains an ongoing investigation.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Virginia Conservation Police, Smith Mountain Lake Marine Fire and Rescue, Franklin County Public Safety Fire and EMS units, as well as Bedford County Fire and EMS units for the organized response and assistance!