Crime and Public Safety
UPDATE from State Police: Investigators have confirmed that the shootings occurred within the vehicle and, at this stage, are investigating the incident as a murder-suicide. A firearm was recovered from inside the vehicle. There is no evidence to indicate another vehicle or individual was involved in the shootings.
News release: The Virginia State Police investigation into the deaths of two individuals Sunday morning in Lee County remains ongoing at this time. At 4 a.m. Sunday (May 10), Virginia State Police responded to a call for a traffic crash on Route 23 at the 28 mile marker in Lee County. A 2015 GMC pickup truck had been traveling north on Route 23 when it ran off the left side of highway into the median.When Trooper D.G. Giles arrived on scene, he found both of the vehicle’s two occupants deceased. Further investigation revealed both occupants – Bailey S. Smith, 21, of Duffield, Va. and Emeri A. Connery, 26, of Coolville, Ohio – had suffered gunshot wounds. The bodies were transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Roanoke for autopsy and examination. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the Virginia State Police Wytheville Division at 276-228-3131 or email us at questions@vsp.virginia.gov. Smith is male; Connery is female.
Its called a “BolaWrap,” a new law enforcement restraint tool that is not “pain compliant.” A loaded cartridge propels a laser-guided Kevlar tether at 640 feet per second – and it wraps around a target, restraining them safely. About 30 police departments nationwide are now using the “less lethal” device according to a BolaWrap executive. Many others – like Roanoke County – are considering it to fill “a gap in in policing tools,” said a retired Los Angeles assistant sheriff now working for BolaWrap. Roanoke County Police Chief Howard Hall watched a demonstration today at the police training academy:
The father of slain WDBJ-7 journalist Alison Parker has released a book about his daughter – shot dead on live TV along with camerman Adam Ward in 2015 – and his fight for improved gun safety. Andy Parker joined WFIR’s Gene Marrano in our studio on Friday – here is an in-depth, “Longer Listen” segment:
The father of slain WDBJ-7 journalist Alison Parker has released a book about his daughter – shot dead on live TV in 2015 – and his fight for improved gun control. Andy Parker will also speak about and sign copies of “For Alison, The Murder of a Young Journalist and a Father’s Fight for Gun Safety,” tomorrow at 1-pm, at “Book No Further” on Church Avenue, inside the 16 West Marketplace. Parker has been making the rounds on national and international media outlets about his book, which also advocates for universal background checks and banning assault-style weapons. We will hear much more from Andy Parker during a “Longer Listen” segment Monday morning at 8:45.
Donquale Maurice Gray
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) – Authorities say the man who died in a shootout with the U.S. Marshals Service near West Virginia University is the same person who was wanted for shooting a police officer in Virginia last month.The Morgantown Police Department on Thursday says Donquale Gray fired at marshals as he attempted to flee from them during a pursuit near the college Wednesday. At least one marshal shot back, and Gray was found dead at the scene.Police say the 25-year-old Gray shot a Bluefield, Virginia, police officer during a Feb. 16 traffic stop. Officers returned fire and the car was found abandoned hours later in West Virginia. The officer who was shot was reported to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.Autopsy results for Gray are pending.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A former Virginia high school teacher was sentenced Friday to nearly three years in prison for hacking into private digital accounts of celebrities and others.Christopher Brannan was the fifth person charged in the 2014 “celebgate” scandal in which hackers obtained nude photographs and other private information from more than 200 people. Actresses Jennifer Lawrence and Mary Elizabeth Winstead are among the celebrities who’ve said they were victims.Prosecutors alleged in court documents that Brannan hacked email accounts by answering security questions he could easily research by reviewing victims’ Facebook accounts. They said he also gained access to private accounts by using phishing email accounts designed to look like security accounts from Apple. Brannan then accessed the victim’s email accounts and searched for personal information, including nude photographs.Brannan, 31, pleaded guilty in October to aggravated identity theft and unauthorized access to a protected computer.He apologized Friday before being sentenced to 34 months in prison. Brannan said he suffered from anxiety and depression, and became addicted to pornography.“I let addiction take control of me and I deeply regret that,” he said.Brannan was a special education teacher at Lee-Davis High School in Mechanicsville from 2013 to 2015. Court documents say he admitted hacking or trying to hack accounts of current and former teachers and students at the high school.Under a plea agreement, both prosecutors and Brannan’s lawyer recommended the 34-month sentence.Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber told U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson that the volume of intrusions was enormous.“It’s truly an immense invasion of privacy,” she said. Brannan’s lawyer, Abraham Del Rio III, told Hudson that Brannan coped with anxiety and depression by viewing online pornography.After hearing from Del Rio, Hudson told Brannan he was still “a little bit perplexed” about why someone with a good job who seemed to be on a good path in life would hack into private accounts.“These are questions that I’ve spent a lot of time asking myself,” Brannan said.Brannan was ordered to begin his sentence April 1.
Roanoke Police say a woman was struck by gunfire last night as she was driving along the 1700 block of Salem Avenue Southwest in the Hurt Park area. Officials say the woman’s injuries are not life-threatening. Police ask anyone with information to contact them.
From Roanoke City Police: On February 27, 2019 just before 8:30 pm, Roanoke Police responded to a report of a shooting in the 1700 block of Salem Avenue SW. Upon arrival, officers located an adult female with a gunshot wound in front of a residence. She was transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.The investigation shows the victim was shot in her vehicle while she was traveling west on Salem Avenue. After she was struck by gunfire, the victim’s car crashed into an unoccupied vehicle parked on Salem Avenue.There have been no arrests made at this time. 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.
Roanoke County police say an attempted robbery over the weekend turned fatal when an apartment resident shot and killed the would-be robber. It happened on the 6,000 block of Carefree Lane in the Hollins area. Police identify the deceased robber as 27-year-old Frankie Cordova of Roanoke. No charges have been filed against the resident who fired the fatal gunshot.
From Roanoke County Police: On Sunday, February 24, 2019 at approximately 8:55 p.m., Roanoke County Police responded to a disturbance with weapon call in the 6000 block of Carefree Lane. Upon arrival at that location, officers discovered a male subject had been shot and was pronounced dead at the scene by Roanoke County Fire & Rescue. Through further investigation it was determined that the deceased subject, identified as Frankie E. Cordova, 27, of Roanoke, had attempted a robbery at the residence. The victim of the robbery was able to fire his own weapon, killing the suspect. No charges have been placed at this time. This case is still under investigation and no further in formation will be released at this time. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Roanoke County Police at 540-562-3265.
Editor’s note: Google Maps shows the the 6000 block of Carefree Lane to be home to a large apartment complex.
Donquale Maurice Gray
State Police say the search for a suspected cop shooter is now focusing on the Roanoke region. 25-year-old Donquale Gray is charged with shooting a Bluefield, Virginia police officer two weeks ago at a traffic stop. There is a $20,000 reward for information that leads to his arrest.
From Virginia State Police: The search for the West Virginia man wanted for shooting a Bluefield, Va. Police Officer two weeks ago has now spread to the Lynchburg and Roanoke region. State and federal law enforcement are following up on information that indicates Donquale “DJ” Gray, 25, of Bluefield, W.Va., may now be hiding out in this area. Gray is wanted in Virginia for attempted capital murder of a police officer and there is a $20,000 reward being offered for information that leads to his arrest.
Virginia State Police, U.S. Marshals Service, ATF, West Virginia State Police and local law enforcement on both sides of the state line have been following up on dozens of tips related to the possible whereabouts of Gray. Most recently Gray’s been living in Bluefield, W.Va. He is originally from Chicago, Ill., and is known to frequent family and friends in Chicago.
Gray shot a 29-year-old Bluefield, VA Police Officer last Saturday night (Feb. 16) during a traffic stop on Route 460 near Exit 3 in the town of Bluefield, Va. The officer survived his wounds and is still recovering. For his safety, the officer’s name is not being released at this time.
Gray was the passenger in a 2008 Toyota Yaris that the officer had stopped for an equipment violation at approximately 11:45 p.m. Gray began shooting at and wounded the Bluefield, Va. Police Officer as the officer was standing outside the vehicle on the driver’s side.
The Bluefield, Va. Officer and a second Bluefield, Va. Officer, who had responded to assist with the traffic stop, returned fire. The Toyota’s driver got out of the vehicle and surrendered. Gray got into the driver’s seat and drove off.
The Toyota was found abandoned a few hours later in Bluefield, W.Va.
The driver of the vehicle was cited for a traffic violation and released. He was not injured in the shooting. Nor was the other Bluefield, Va. Police Officer at the scene.