Crime and Public Safety
A man was taken to the hospital with non-critical injuries yesterday after being found shot on the porch of a home in the 600-block of Harrison Avenue in Northwest Roanoke. Authorities say the man was “less-than cooperative” and yelled obscenities at them when they arrived, not even wanting to share his name.
From the Roanoke City Police Department — On September 4, 2022, at approximately 3:00 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified by the City of Roanoke E-911 Center of a person with a gunshot wound in the 600 block of Harrison Avenue NW. Responding officers located an adult male victim with what appeared to be a non-life-threatening gunshot wound outside of a residence in the area. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the man to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Further details about this incident are limited due to the victim’s lack of cooperation. No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been made at this time regarding this 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.
Update 9/4 UPDATE: The victim of this incident has been identified as Demarion D. Sanders, 15 of Roanoke. No further information is available at this time.NEWS RELEASE: On September 3, 2022 at approximately 7:45 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified by the City of Roanoke E-911 Center of reports of shots fired in the 1000 block of Palm Avenue NW. Responding officers located a male subject with what appeared to be a critical gunshot wound outside of a residence in the area. Roanoke Fire-EMS personnel pronounced the male subject deceased on scene. The individual was later identified as a teenage juvenile male. His identity will be shared after notifying his next-of-kin.
Further details about what led to this incident are limited. No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been made at this time. This remains 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.
(from Blacksburg PD) Blacksburg Police Investigate Fatal Traffic Crash: This morning, September 2 just after midnight, Blacksburg Police Officers along with members of the Blacksburg Rescue Squad responded to a vehicle versus a pedestrian crash in the 2200 block of S. Main St. Upon arrival officers located and identified the pedestrian as 20 year old John Wallace Thomasson of Fairfax, VA. Life saving measures were initiated at the scene but were unsuccessful and Thomasson succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the vehicle remained on scene and is cooperating with the investigation.
The US Department of Justice has awarded $550,000 in grants to three organizations in Roanoke, targeted towards addressing gun violence and its aftermath. Carilion Clinic will receive $200,000 to assist gun violence survivors once they are discharged from the hospital. Meanwhile TAP President and CEO Annette Lewis says $200,000 allocated to that non-profit will help low-income families with relocating from “hot spots” of violence to a safer environment:
The third grant for $150,000 goes to Family Service of Roanoke Valley, which will station mental health counselors in northwest Roanoke at the EnVision Center near the Lansdowne Park public housing project. Virginia’s Department of Criminal Justice Services distributed that Federal grant funding.
(Roanoke City Release) The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) awarded Carilion Clinic, Family Service of Roanoke Valley, and Total Action for Progress (TAP) three unique grants aimed at addressing the impacts of gun violence in Roanoke. Combined, the grants total $550,000. “This funding is meaningful for our community as we continue to address the complex issues that stem from gun violence,” said Mayor Sherman Lea. “These grants are an acknowledgment of the innovative, collaborative work being done right here in Roanoke.”
The grants stem from efforts at the national and state levels to support grass-roots gun violence prevention initiatives. The City of Roanoke was a locality in Virginia to observe one of the top ten highest increases in gun violence according to the DOJ, underscoring the need for collaborative, creative, and long-term solutions. By the numbers, the Roanoke City Police Department reported a 21 percent increase in firearm-related crimes from 2020 to 2021.
Similarly, the region’s only Level 1 trauma center, Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, experienced a 48 percent increase in total gun-related injuries from 2019 to 2021 (this includes patients from the entire region). Each of the grants awarded is for a two-year period with the goal of addressing the impacts of gun violence:
• Carilion Clinic: Violent Injury Recovery & Support Program (VIRS) – $200,000 It is not unusual for Carilion’s trauma teams to respond to gun-related injuries on a daily basis. Now, they are launching the VIRS program to assist gun violence survivors beyond the bedside with the help of a new team made up of intervention specialists. The intervention specialists will evaluate a patient’s needs when discharged.
• Family Service of Roanoke Valley: EnVision Center Counseling – $150,000 . In 2021, Northwest Roanoke was one of the sections of the city hardest hit by gun violence. Around 40 percent of the city’s gun violence victims were in that area of the city. With their
grant, Family Service plans to meet residents of Northwest where they are, providing readily accessible mental health support.
The grant will fund a counselor stationed for five days a week at the EnVision Center in Northwest Roanoke adjacent to Lansdowne Park.
• TAP: Gun Violence Emergency Relocation Project (GV-ER) – $200,000/ TAP’s GV-ER project will focus on relocating low-income families in the City of Roanoke from hot spots of violence and/or unsafe living conditions that would likely expose them to further
violence. It follows a model TAP has seen success with for victims of domestic violence. “This program is intended to fill a needed gap in local offerings, helping not only those directly impacted by gun violence but also secondary victims,” said Annette Lewis, president and CEO of TAP. “Relocation and supportive services help to give families a fresh start, proactively addressing multigenerational trauma.”
“A multifaceted issue like gun violence will require long-term thinking. Unfortunately, it’s not a problem that can be solved overnight,” said Roanoke City Councilman Joe Cobb [today at a news conference], who also serves as the elected official on the City’s Gun Violence Prevention Commission. “These initiatives are great examples of strategic collaboration to meet our community members where they are and address the residual impacts of gun violence.”
In the interest of enhancing existing security measures, Salem Civic Center officials announced today that they are implementing a new clear bag security policy beginning on Saturday, September 17 (the Gary Allen concert). The new policy is designed to regulate the size and types of bags that may be carried into the venue for all events. “We are constantly reviewing our safety and security procedures,” says Wendy Delano, Salem’s Director of Civic Facilities. “Having a clear bag policy will provide a safer environment for our valued guests and will speed up the screening process for them as they enter the venue.” Fans are strongly encouraged to carry as few items as possible when coming to the Salem Civic Center.
Here are the types of bags that are permitted:
• Bags that are made of clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC
• Clear bags that are not larger than 12” tall x 6” deep x 12” wide.
• One-gallon plastic freezer bags (a Ziploc bag or similar)
• Small clutch bags, approximately 4.5” tall x 6.5: wide, with or without a handle or strap.
• Exceptions will be made for medically necessary items, but only after a proper inspection at an entrance that is
specifically designated for this purpose.
Prohibited items include, but are not limited to, purses larger than a clutch bag, coolers, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, cinch bags, luggage of any kind, computer bags, camera bags or any bag larger than the permissible size. Fans can still bring allowed items into the venue such as non-professional cameras, binoculars, and smart phones, if they are stored in a pocket or an allowed clear bag.
Update 4:05 Roanoke County Police, Fire, and Rescue are on scene in the 8200 block of Bent Mountain Road, for a single vehicle crash involving a vehicle that went off the road and down a steep embankment. Bent Mountain Road will be closed in both directions between Moonlight Lane and Strawberry Lane. At this time, it is unknown when the road will be reopened. Drivers are asked to avoid the area and find alternate routes. On US-221 in Roanoke County, in the vicinity of Countrywood Dr, motorists can expect delays due to a vehicle crash. The north left lane and right lane are closed. The south through lanes are closed. (as of 3:45 pm). Reports are that a truck went off Bent Mountain Road.
(from Bedford County Sheriff’s office) On 8/29/22 at approximately 1100PM the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office received a call for a truck blocking the roadway and a possible disturbance on Planters Drive in the Huddleston area of Bedford County. When Deputies arrived in the area the suspect and vehicle had left the scene. While on scene, Deputies identified that an assault and property damage had occurred. Deputies began patrolling the area and soon located the dump truck involved in the incident. Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle at which time the suspect refused to stop leading Deputies on a lengthy pursuit that started in the Huddleston area of Bedford County and finally ending in the Town of Bedford at which time the suspect was taken into custody without further incident.
The suspect was identified as Steven Harold Behnke, 53 years of age from Lynchburg. Behnke was arrested for Felony Eluding Law Enforcement, Driving Under the Influence, Assault on a Family Member and Property Damage. Behnke is currently being held at the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Amherst Facility without bond. I would like to also thank the Virginia State Police, Bedford County Dispatch, Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, and the Town of Bedford Police Department for their assistance in this incident.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Commanders rookie running back Brian Robinson Jr. was shot during an attempted robbery or carjacking, the NFL team said Sunday night.
The 23-year-old former Alabama player was taken to a hospital with what the team called non-life-threatening injuries. The team said in a statement staff members were with Robinson at the hospital.
Coach Ron Rivera said he had been with Robinson.
“He is in good spirits and wanted me to thank everyone for their kind words, prayers & support,” Rivera said on Twitter. “He wants his teammates to know he appreciates them all for reaching out and he loves them all & will be back soon doing what he does best.”
D.C. police reported a shooting in the northeast section of the city and said it was on the lookout for two possible suspects.
Robinson, a third-round draft pick, was was expected to start for the Commanders this season. He had been particularly impressive during training camp and preseason games, likely earning the job over incumbent Antonio Gibson.
“Brian’s been great,” offensive coordinator Scott Turner said recently. “He’s a real serious guy. Football is extremely important to him. He takes a lot of pride in being a physical runner.”
Robinson traveled with the team for its preseason finale at Baltimore on Saturday night but did not dress.
The 6-foot-1, 228-pound back rushed for 1,343 yards and 14 touchdowns last season at Alabama. The Commanders selected him with the 98th pick in the draft.