Crime and Public Safety
Roanoke Police say the gunshot victim this morning seems to have suffered a non-life-threatening injury. Officials say officers found the man in a parking lot in the 2800 block of Colonial Avenue SW. He was taken to the hospital. No suspects or details have been released.
Posted at 7:45 am on 6/3/22: Roanoke City police say one person was taken to the hospital after a shooting this morning in the 2800 block of Colonial Avenue SW. No information about a suspect or motive has been revealed.
The grant writer behind the “Roanoke’s Groceries Not Guns” event says there’s a common factor other than a gun with mass shootings in the United States. WFIR’s Ian Price has more.
(ABC News) At least four people are dead and multiple people are injured following a shooting at the Natalie Building at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Wednesday, according to police. Police received a call of a man walking with a rifle near a medical office shortly before 5 p.m. local time. When police responded, they said it turned into an active shooter situation, according to Tulsa Police Captain Richard Meulenberg.
When police entered the building, they found multiple people shot. “Officers immediately rushed to the second floor where the shooting was taking place, when they got there they found a few people had been shot, a couple were dead at that time,” Meulenberg told ABC News. “We also found at that time who [we] believe and still believe to [be] the shooter because he had a long rifle and a pistol with him.”
Tulsa police said the shooter died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
One of the victims died after leaving the scene trying to seek medical aid, Meulenberg said. It is unclear at this time how many others were wounded in the shooting, though Meulenberg believed it to be under 10.
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting, the White House said. “The White House is closely monitoring the situation and has reached out to state and local officials to offer support,” the White House said in a statement.
(from Virginia State Police) At 7:46 p.m. on Friday (May 27), Virginia State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Route 460 and Route 623 (Cascade Dr.). A 2012 Chevrolet Impala was traveling east on Route 460 when it attempted to make a left turn onto Route 623 (Cascade Dr.) and struck a 2019 Ford F150 that was traveling west on Route 460. The impact of the crash caused the Ford to run off the right side of the road and overturn in a flooded creek bed.
The driver of the Impala, Ronald W. Hobbs, Sr., 79, of Pembroke, Va., was transported for treatment of minor injuries. He was not wearing a seatbelt. The driver of the Ford, Richard L. Morton, 66, of Princeton, W.Va., was transported for treatment of minor injuries. He was not wearing a seatbelt. A passenger in the Ford, Debra D. Morton, 67, was transported for treatment of serious injuries. She was not wearing a seatbelt.
Another passenger in the Ford, Shireen K. Henson, 71, of Rich Creek, Va., was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital where on May 30 she succumbed to her injuries. She was wearing a seatbelt. Hobbs was charged with reckless driving (46.2-852). The crash remains under investigation.
Photo: Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge
(Roanoke County, VA – May 31, 2022) Roanoke County Fire and Rescue can now confirm that the hiker who fell from the summit of McAfee Knob on Sunday, May 29, 2022 did not survive his injuries from the fall. He died at the hospital on May 29, 2022. He is identified as Paul Classen, a 23-year-old from The Netherlands. Roanoke County Fire and Rescue will have no further updates on this incident.
(from Roanoke PD) On May 29, 2022 at approximately 2:00 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified by the City of Roanoke E-911 Center of an unresponsive person near the intersection of 13th Street NE and Baldwin Avenue NE. Responding officers located an adult male lying partially in the roadway with what appeared to be critical gunshot wounds. The man was pronounced deceased on scene by Roanoke Fire-EMS personnel. He has been identified as Samuel E. Dickerson, Jr., 32 of Roanoke.
No suspects were located on scene, no arrests have been made, and further details about what led to this incident are limited 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.
(Roanoke County, VA—May 29, 2022) Roanoke County Fire and Rescue responded at 6:00a.m. on Sunday, May 29, 2022 to the McAfee Knob summit in the Masons Cove area of Roanoke County for the report of a male in his 20’s who had fallen from the top of the mountain. The subject fell approximately 50 ft. Three all-terrain vehicles, and about 30 fire and rescue personnel and 3 police officers were used in this rescue operation. The rescue team reached the injured subject at about 6:54 a.m., rendered aid and began to carry him back up to the top of the summit. The terrain in that area is extremely steep and rocky. Initial rescuers were joined by a wilderness medicine doctor from Carilion and other rescuers who helped to carry the subject to an all-terrain vehicle and ultimately to a waiting medical helicopter for transport to Roanoke Memorial Hospital. The subject’s injuries are believed to be life threatening. The hikers and the rescue team were off the trail at about 9:30 a.m.
(from Henry County Sheriff’s Office) On May 25 at 7:00 pm, deputies from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office went to 244 Grassy Creek Rd., Martinsville, VA, in an attempt to arrest Ronald Gene Edwards Jr. (pictured) Mr. Edwards was wanted on felony drug indictments. When deputies approached the residence, Edwards retreated into the home.
Deputies were able to make contact with Edwards, and he stated he was armed with a knife and refused to come out. Negotiators from the Sheriff’s Office responded and made continuous attempts to contact Edwards without success. A search warrant was obtained to enter the residence.
At approximately 11:00 pm, a tactical unit from the Sheriff’s Office made entry into the residence; after a comprehensive search of the home, it was discovered that Edwards was located in the attic. Deputies made contact with Edwards, and he again advised he was armed with a knife and refused to come out. At approximately 11:50 pm, deputies were able to remove Edwards from the ceiling of the home, and he was taken into custody.
Ronald Gene Edwards Jr, 33, of 1805 Eggleston Falls Rd., Ridgeway, VA, was taken into custody on the following charges.
- Distribution of Fentanyl (felony)
- Distribution of Tramadol (felony
In addition, he was charged with Obstruction of Justice (misdemeanor) for failing to exit the home. He is currently held in the Henry County Adult Detention Center without bond.
The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office is looking for help in locating a stolen 2005 Ford F-150, VA plate 1513XJ, along with a black 18 foot Proline/Nexhaul Trailer, VA plate 55171TM (similar to pic). It was taken from the 200 block of Bowles Street in the Stewartsville area early this morning. The truck should have a sticker in the middle of the back glass that says “Modern Muffler Custom Exhaust”.
Anyone with information please contact Investigator Burnette at 540-586-4800, dispatch at 540-586-7827 or Central Virginia Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900 or enter your tip online at http://p3tips.com or use the P3TIPS app on your mobile device. Crime Stopper callers remain anonymous and could receive a cash reward up to $1,000.00.