Crime and Public Safety
UPDATE: Roanoke Police have obtained warrants in connection with the Homicide of Michael D. Jackson that occurred on 6/8. The following two individuals are wanted for Second Degree Murder – Shannon Lewis Walker age 29 of Roanoke and Derrell Jamar Jones age 28 of Roanoke. We do believe these two men are armed. Anyone with information on the location of these individuals is asked to call 911 immediately. Callers can remain anonymous. Anonymous text messages can be sent to 274637. Please begin your text with the keyword “RoanokePD” to ensure that it’s properly sent. Give them case number 18-062301.
PREVIOUS: There was a fatal shooting overnight in Northwest Roanoke. Police say shortly after a midnight an officer located a black man with a gunshot wound in the 1600 block of Burrell Street. Authorities say it appears the shooting was the result of a verbal altercation at the nearby LT Store. No arrest has been made at this time. The victim has been identified as 42-year-old Michael D. Jackson of Roanoke.
From Roanoke City Police: On June 8, 2018 around midnight a Roanoke Police Officer while patrolling in the 300 block Orange Avenue NW area heard a gunshot in the vicinity. As the officer was responding, it was reported that there was a subject in the 1600 Block Burrell Avenue that had been shot.
Located in the parking lot of the LT Store was an adult black male with a gunshot wound. Roanoke Fire and EMS responded and transported the male to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 12:40 am.
At this point in the investigation, it appears that the victim and two black males began a verbal altercation inside the store and the confrontation continued to the parking lot. Detectives and Forensics Investigators are collecting evidence and conducting interviews. It is unknown if there is a relationship between the victim and the two black males. No arrest have been made at this time. Identification of the victim will be made after notifications have been made.
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Roanoke County fire officials credit working smoke detectors for avoiding a potential tragedy. Flames heavily damaged a southwest county home on Shorthorn Drive last night – the dollar loss is put at $160,000. Four people are displaced, and one of them was home when a smoke detector alerted him to the fire. The cause has not yet been determined.
From Roanoke County Fire and Rescue: Fire investigators have determined the fire on Shorthorn Drive started in the basement but are not able to determine exactly what caused the fire. Damages are estimated at $160,000. We are now learning that a family of four lived in the home and are displaced. This is a perfect example of how a working smoke detector can be a life-saver. This home had working smoke alarms and they alerted the adult man who was at home at the time of the fire.
Previous: Roanoke County Fire & Rescue crews were dispatched to the 3100 block of Shorthorn Drive at about 7 p.m. for a reported structure fire. When initial crews arrived they reported smoke and flames coming from the two-story house. An adult male was home when working smoke detectors alerted him to the fire. He was able to exit the home and call 911. Career and volunteer crews from the Cave Spring, Back Creek and Clearbrook stations had the flames under control in about 40 minutes. There is heavy fire, smoke and water damage to the house. The man who lived in the home is displaced and staying with family.Two cats were initially reported as missing, but were later found hiding in the home and appear to be okay. No injuries were reported. Fire investigators are now on scene and have begun their work to determine what caused this fire.
NEW YORK (AP) — A 2-year-old Long Island boy and the father suspected of abducting him are believed to be dead in Virginia, police said Wednesday, a tragic development in a case where state police declined to issue an Amber Alert. Suffolk County police said they were awaiting positive identification to confirm that the bodies found in a vehicle in Rockbridge County are Jovani Ligurgo and his father, John. The vehicle has the same license plate as Ligurgo’s Jeep Grand Cherokee, police said. The Rockbridge County Sheriff’s office said investigators were still at the scene and would provide details later. Suffolk police were scheduled to give an update on the case Wednesday afternoon.
Jovani’s mother alerted police Tuesday after 43-year-old John Ligurgo failed to drop the boy off at her home between 3:30 and 4 p.m., as they had arranged. Suffolk police asked New York State Police to issue an Amber Alert, but state police said they did not provide enough information to meet the criteria for one. Amber Alerts are issued only when an abducted child is in danger of serious bodily harm or death, state police said. Suffolk police said Ligurgo may have been armed with a hunting rifle, but that they had no indication that he would harm his son. Cameras later recorded Ligurgo’s Jeep crossing the George Washington Bridge into New Jersey.
Jovani’s mother had dropped off the boy at Ligurgo’s condominium about 7 a.m. Tuesday to spend the day with his father. That afternoon, about a half-hour before she called police, a fire broke out in the bedroom of Ligurgo’s condo. Police said no one was there at the time.
(Update 6/5 3pm) One of the suspects sought in the Overland Drive murder and robbery in Roanoke County on May 19. – Shamby Walker – was taken into custody today by the U.S. Marshals Service in Roanoke City without incident. She was turned over to Roanoke County Police. Andrew Jeffers is still at large.
(previously) Roanoke County police are now seeking a second person of interest in the May 19 murder on Overland Drive, when a deceased female was dropped off at the Cave Spring Lewis Gale E-R Center. Andrew Jeffers is described as 6’4″, 285 pounds, with blue eyes and shaved blond hair. He’s wanted on several charges related to second degree robbery and burglary. Please contact Roanoke County police with any information.
UPDATE — FBI news release: Seven-month-old Emma Grace Kennedy has been found safe, and her father, Carl Ray Kennedy, has been arrested. Danville Police, FBI, Randloph County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Secret Service arrested Kennedy in Randleman, N.C. He is in custody in North Carolina. Emma Grace Kennedy appears to be in good health and is being evaluated at a local hospital. The mother of the child has been notified. An Amber Alert was issued for Emma Grace Kennedy, but it has since been canceled.
PREVIOUS: The Virginia State Police and the Virginia Missing Children Clearinghouse has issued an AMBER Alert on behalf of the City of Danville, VA for a child abduction that occurred on June 3, 2018. The child is believed to be in extreme danger and was last seen at the Kwik stop on Riverside Drive, Danville, VA on June 3, 2018 at 7:55 pm.
Abducted is Emma Grace Kennedy, White, Female, Blond hair, Blue eyes, 7 Months Old, 2 foot 2 inches tall, weighing 18 lbs, Last seen wearing a light blue onesie.
The child is believed to have been abducted by Carl Ray Kennedy, White, Male, Gray hair, Green eyes, 5 foot 8 inches, weighing 170 lbs, Last Seen wearing a brown short sleeve shirt with gray shorts and black and white sketchers. He has a Tattoo of a skull on his Left forearm. Tattoo of a Skull with bandanna over the mouth on right forearm. An eye tattoo on the back of his right hand. Upper right arm pitbull with american bulldog written under it and a wizard on his left upper arm.
Last seen driving a gold four door Suzuki, with NC tag FAA-1873
For further information contact the Danville City Police Department at 434-799-5111or visit /www.
From Roanoke Police Department: At around 4 a.m. Sunday morning, Roanoke Police were patrolling in the area of Hunt Avenue when they heard several gunshots in the immediate area.
Officers then observed a car rapidly fleeing from the area with the back window broken out, officers attempted to stop the vehicle which failed to yield and began to pursue the vehicle. After a short chase, the vehicle pulled over and the three occupants were brought into the police department for questioning.
At around 4:15 a.m., officers were notified that two male victims with non-life threatening gunshot wounds had transported themselves to Carilion Roanoke Memorial hospital.
The two men – 25-year-old Tychain Davis and 27-year-old Jeffrey Brown – and several other witnesses told police they were part of a large gathering in the 800 block of Hunt Avenue when a car drove by and shot into the crowd. Several in the crowd returned fire, and that’s when the car sped off.
The driver of the car, 26-year-old Dalantae Brown, was charged with eluding police. This incident is still under investigation.
The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office says a Nelson County motorcyclist led them on a high-speed chase overnight that covered almost 90 miles after starting in Forest and ending about 70 minutes later in Bedford. 29-year-old Matthew Waltz of Roseland faces multiple charges including improper registration and driving without a license. His passenger, 29-year-old Alisha Carroll of Forest is charged with resisting arrest.
News release: At approximately 1:10 a.m. this morning a Bedford County Sheriff’s deputy observed a motorcycle with two occupants traveling south on 221 at high rate of speed. The motorcycle did not stop at the red light at the intersection of Perrowville Road. The deputy activated his emergency equipment and attempted to stop the motorcycle. The motorcycle attempted to flee through Bedford County and even entered Lynchburg City at one point. The motorcycle crashed on Greenwood Street in the Town of Bedford at 2:20 a.m. and the driver and female passenger fled on foot. Both were apprehended after a short search of the area. Speeds during the pursuit exceeded 90 miles an hour and covered 89 miles in length. Both subjects were transported to Bedford Memorial Hospital and were released after being medically cleared.
The driver was identified as Matthew A. Waltz, age 29, of Roseland. He was arrested and charged with felony elude police, driving suspended, no motorcycle license, improper registration of the motorcycle, no insurance, disregarding traffic signals and resisting arrest. The passenger was identified as Alisha B. Carroll, age 29, of Forest. She was arrested and charged with resisting arrest.
The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in the pursuit by the Virginia State Police and Bedford Police Department.
UPDATED TUESDAY PM: VDOT reports the lower area of Sugar Loaf Mountain Road is again open. Crews laid down 500 feet of gravel in the area to make it passable. Work on the upper area is not yet complete, but one lane has been opened with alternating lane closures. It is not clear whether further closures may be necessary. VDOT says this initial work is intended only to make the road passable again, and additional work will be needed in the future to complete roadway restoration.
TUESDAY AM: VDOT officials say work is already under way in efforts to re-open Sugar Loaf Mountain Road as soon as possible. Damage from the weekend downpours forced the closure of a one-mile stretch just outside Oak Grove Village in southwest Roanoke County. The hope is to make lower part of it passable with a gravel base by later today — and the rest by tomorrow — but VDOT says it is not yet possible to set a firm timetable.
PREVIOUS: Roanoke County Police say the recent heavy rains have heavily damaged a portion of Sugar Loaf Mountain Road in the southwest county. As a result, a one-mile portion of the roadway outside just outside Oak Grove Village has been declared impassible. Barricades and police tape are up on Sugar Loaf Mountain between Elbert Drive and Sugar Ridge Road. Police say VDOT has been notified, but there is no word yet on how long repairs might take.
From Roanoke County Police: (Roanoke County, VA) – Due to the heavy rains that have fallen in the past 24 hrs, we have discovered that a portion of Sugar Loaf Mtn Rd in Roanoke County has been heavily damaged to the point of being unpassable. We are marking the road closed from the intersection of Sugar Loaf Mtn Rd at Elbert Dr to the intersection of Sugar Loaf Mtn Rd at Sugar Ridge Rd. Barricades and police tape have been placed at both ends, directing drivers not to pass through. Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has been made aware of the condition of the road as well as the actions taken, and will respond as soon as possible. Again, we are directing drivers to not drive between the intersections of Sugar Loaf Mtn Rd at Elbert Dr and the intersection of Sugar Loaf Mtn Rd and Sugar Ridge Rd.
From News Release: Virginia State Police Trooper S.R. Stagner is investigating a motor vehicle crash which resulted in a fatality. The crash occurred Monday (May 28) on Interstate 81 southbound at the 180.4 mile marker at 12:38 p.m. in Rockbridge County.
A 2016 Peterbilt tractor trailer was traveling south on Interstate 81, when the tractor trailer made an unsafe lane change, from the right lane to the left lane and struck a 1996 Toyota 4-Runner. The 1996 4-Runner overturned injuring two occupants. The 2016 Peterbilt ran off the left side of the roadway and down the embankment into the trees.
The driver of the 2016 Peterbilt tractor trailer was identified as Matthew Brian Dean, 44, of Live Oak, FL. Mr. Dean was not wearing his seatbelt and died at the scene. The passenger, Dianna Dean was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
The driver and the passenger of the Toyota were transported to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
The tractor trailer will remain in place over the embankment in the median at the request of VDOT and be removed May 29, 2018. The Virginia State Police Crash Reconstruction Team assisted with the crash.
The crash remains under investigation.