Crime and Public Safety

(from Roanoke County PD) On Tuesday November 22 at 3:40pm, a 2002 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by James Thompson was traveling westbound in the 5000 block of W. Main St in Roanoke County. As the motorcycle approached slower traffic, it rear ended a Pro-Line dump trailer that was being pulled by a 1999 Ford F-250 pickup truck. Mr. Thompson was wearing a helmet but was pronounced dead at the scene.  The occupants of the truck were wearing their seat belts and were not injured. Drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the crash. The investigation is ongoing, and no charges are pending. The roadway was closed for a period of time.

Update 11/21 The Roanoke Police investigation has determined that the crime scene for shooting incident on 11/20 was located at 730 Tazewell Ave SE. This is still an ongoing investigation.

(previously) On November 20 at approximately 6:08 a.m., Roanoke Police were notified that a person with a gunshot wound had arrived at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital via personal vehicle. Officers responded to speak with the adult male victim, who had what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries. Details about this incident are limited and this is an ongoing investigation.

(update 11/21) Roanoke Police have identified the deceased occupant at the scene of the traffic fatality as 35 year old Francis Santos Martinez of Roanoke. Additionally, 31 year old Hector Calo Fernandez of Roanoke was pronounced deceased on 11/21/2022 by Roanoke Memorial Hospital physicians as a result of injuries sustained in the motor vehicle crash.

On November 20 at approximately 1:01 a.m., Roanoke Police were notified by the City of Roanoke E-911 Center of a motor vehicle crash in the 1300 block of 10th Street NW. Responding officers located a single vehicle on its side. Two adult male occupants were ejected from the vehicle. Roanoke Fire-EMS pronounced an adult male occupant deceased on the scene. The other adult male occupant was transported by Roanoke Fire-EMS to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment of critical injuries. This remains an ongoing investigation, but speed does appear to be a factor.

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 being the text with “RoanokePD” to ensure its properly sent. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous.

(FROM WHSV) One person has died as a result of a crash that happened on I-81 in the Staunton area around 6 a.m. Saturday.

According to Virginia State Police, a tractor-trailer was headed west on I-64. As it was taking the ramp to merge onto I-81 south, it ran off the road and went through the guardrail. The tractor-trailer landed in the northbound lanes of I-81 and hit a pickup truck. The person driving the truck died at the scene.

VDOT UPDATE – (1 p.m.) Northbound and southbound Interstate 81 have fully reopened following Saturday morning’s tractor trailer crash at mile marker 221 near Staunton. The ramp from I-81 southbound to I-64 eastbound at exit 221 is expected to reopen shortly, following final cleanup operations.

The incident took place shortly before 6:30 a.m. Saturday when a truck crashed through the railing of the I-64 westbound bridge over I-81 and landed on the I-81 northbound lanes.

The ramp from I-64 westbound to I-81 southbound has partly reopened. Motorists can use the left lane of the ramp, but the right lane will remain closed until contractors make repairs to the bridge railing. The Virginia Department of Transportation will provide updates on the bridge repairs.

PREVIOUS:  (8 a.m.) An overturned tractor trailer is blocking all northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 81 at mile marker 221 near Staunton. The location is at the overpass bridge for exit 221, the junction of I-81 and I-64. The ramp from westbound I-64 to southbound I-81 is also closed. There is no estimate on reopening lanes. Avoid the area.

Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway) is a bypass around Staunton, and is serving as a detour route.

  • Northbound I-81 traffic is detoured at exit 220 and follows Route 262 north to rejoin the interstate at exit 225.
  • Southbound I-81 traffic is detoured at exit 225 and follows Route 262 south to rejoin the interstate at exit 220.

The overturned tractor trailer was reported to the Virginia Department of Transportation shortly before 6:30 a.m. Saturday (November 19). The truck was hauling a liquid cargo that will need to be cleaned up before all lanes can reopen

Lavel Davis Jr. (left), D’Sean Perry (center), Devin Chandler (right)

The University of Virginia Police Department says UVA received a threatening email today in advance of the planned 3:30 pm memorial service for the three students fatally shot earlier this week. The department says “We are taking all reasonable measures to ensure the safety our our patrons and the security of the facility.”

From UVA Police: Around mid-day the University received a threatening email related to today’s planned Memorial Service at JPJ Arena. We are taking all reasonable measures to ensure the safety of our patrons and the security of the facility. Please be advised that UVA has enhanced security measures in and near the Arena. At this time, the Memorial will continue as planned. If you see anything suspicious, please notify lawvenforcement or security professionals immediately.

Lavel Davis Jr. (left), D’Sean Perry (center), Devin Chandler (right)

The suspect in the murders of three UVA student-athletes on Sunday had several incidents involving guns on his record – when he shot three members of the Cavaliers football team dead and wounded two others. Virginia US Senator Mark Warner on whether more red flags – and stop signs – need to be put in place. WFIR’s Gene Marrano has the story:

Courtesy of Gordon McKernan

During the UVA fatal shootings, running back Mike Hollins rushed back onto the bus when he heard the shootings begin in an attempt to save lives only to find himself face-to-face with a gunman who had just shot to death three of his teammates. Mike’s mother Brenda tells Sports Illustrated Mike saw him raise the gun and he then turned and ran before ultimately getting shot in the back.

(from Roanoke PD) On November 17at approximately 4:00 a.m., Roanoke Police were notified by the City of Roanoke E-911 Center of a person with a gunshot wound in the 1100 block of Forest Park Blvd NW. Responding officers did not locate a victim at the scene, but did locate a residence that contained evidence of a shooting. Shortly after officers arrived at the Forest Park Blvd address, they were notified by Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital personnel that an adult male had arrived at the hospital via personal vehicle seeking treatment for what appeared to be non-life threatening gunshot wounds. Additional officers responded to the hospital to speak with the victim.

Details are limited at this time due to the victim’s lack of cooperation with investigating officers. No arrests have been made at this time and this remains 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.

Jason Miyares

In response to a request by the University of Virginia and the Board of Visitors, Attorney General Jason Miyares has agreed to conduct an external review of the events that led to the shooting death of three UVA student-athletes on Sunday. Miyares will enlist a special counsel to assist in completing this important work; a statement from UVA says they cooperate fully with the investigation – which the A-G’s office says will be shared with, quote, “students, families, the larger UVA community, and government officials at the appropriate time.”

(Text of letter from UVA Rector Whittington W. Clement) Dear General Miyares, We would like to thank you and your team for the support you have provided as our community reckons with the death of three University of Virginia students and serious injuries to two others in a shooting that law enforcement authorities believe was perpetrated by Christopher Darnell Jones, Jr., a fellow University student.

As you know, University Police have requested that the Virginia State Police assume primary responsibility for the continued criminal investigation of this tragic incident. University Police officials, along with other state and federal law enforcement agencies, will continue to assist the Virginia State Police in the criminal investigation into this matter, which we expect will support a successful
prosecution of Mr. Jones. As that investigation proceeds, there are many valid questions about the shooting that have yet to
be answered and are unlikely to be answered in the course of criminal proceedings. Accordingly, we write today to request that you exercise your authority under Virginia law to appoint outside special counsel with expertise in these matters to conduct an independent review of the University’s response to the shooting, as well as the efforts the University undertook in the period before
the tragedy to assess the potential threat Mr. Jones posed to our community.

Finally, we request that the special counsel review all relevant University policies and procedures and make recommendations if opportunities for improvement or needs for change are identified. We will cooperate fully with your office and the special counsel who conducts the review. We thank you again for your leadership and support in this difficult moment.