Crime and Public Safety
NIBIN van Ian Price photo
“NIBIN” has arrived – the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has unveiled a mobile crime fighting tool – a rolling lab that can identify unique marks on a spent bullet casing and link it to previous gun violence incidents via a massive database. It stopped in Roanoke this morning. NIBIN stands for “the National Integrated Ballistics Identification Network.” There are now 3 such vans equipped by the ATF nationally. Walter Dandridge Jr. is a forensics firearms specialist for the ATF. Dandridge says they are targeted for higher crime communities that do not have their own stationary forensic labs.
One of Virginia’s U.S. Senators took to Fox News to discuss his new bipartisan legislation aimed at tackling a rising problem in the Commonwealth. WFIR’s Emma Thomas has details:
Jason Miyares
While Democrats tend to favor gun control and limiting who can purchase firearms as a way to curb gun violence, Republicans like Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares look for other ways to combat the issue. WFIR’s Gene Marrano spoke with Miyares recently:
A gun violence activist group made waves on social media this weekend. WFIR’s Emma Thomas has more from the Deputy co-lead of a Virginia chapter on the Mother’s Day of Action:
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. – Virginia State Police is investigating a two-vehicle crash, which resulted in a fatality. The crash occurred Wednesday, (May 10) at 4:35 p.m. on Route 220, just north of Taylor Road in Franklin County.
A 2015 Toyota RAV4 pulled out of the Carilion Clinic, crossing the northbound lanes of Route 220, when the vehicle was struck by a 2014 Honda Civic, which was traveling north on Route 220. The driver of the Toyota was identified as Robert J. Montgomery, 87, of Wirtz, Va. Mr. Montgomery was wearing his seatbelt and died at the scene. The passenger, Carol A. Montgomery was injured and transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
The Honda was driven by Jeremy W. Quarles, 25, of Roanoke, Va. Mr. Quarles was wearing his seatbelt and was also transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for injuries received in the crash. Speed may have been a factor in the crash and charges are pending.
Photo: From Andrea Burney, RISE 540 group at a skate party
A local youth program will hit its one year anniversary soon. WFIR’s Emma Thomas reports on the impacts it’s made in that time:
In honor of fentanyl awareness day, a local organization is speaking out about the dangers of the drug. WFIR’s Emma Thomas has more:
On Tuesday May 9, 2023, around 7:20am, a 2008 Mercury Mariner, driven by Walter Rodriguez Flores, crossed the double yellow line in the 5900 block of Old Mountain Rd in Roanoke County. The Mercury struck a 2018 Buick Encore head on. The driver of the Buick was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Mr. Rodriguez Flores was not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene. Drugs and alcohol were not believed to be a factor in the crash. No charges are pending in this case and the investigation is on going. The road was blocked for about two hours but has been reopened.