Crime and Public Safety
ALLEGHANY COUNTY, Va. – Virginia State Police is investigating a single vehicle crash, which resulted in a fatality. The crash occurred Wednesday (Aug 10) at 9:45 a.m. on Route 629, near Whispering Circle in Alleghany County. A Chevrolet pickup was traveling north on Route 629, when the vehicle ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Ricky Lee Poore, 41, of Roanoke, Va. Mr. Poore was not wearing his seatbelt and died at the scene.
On August 9 at approximately 9:15 a.m., the City of Roanoke E-911 Center notified Roanoke Police of a possible bank robbery that had occurred in the 2800 block of Brambleton Avenue SW (Hometrust Bank). Responding Officers determined the suspect was no longer on scene, and immediately set up a perimeter in the area to look for the suspect. Evidence indicated the male suspect entered the business, displayed a weapon, physically assaulted an employee of the business, then took an undisclosed amount of U.S. Currency and fled the scene on foot. All available personnel continued searching for the suspect. After following numerous leads, they were ultimately able to locate the suspect, identified as Brian N. Brown, 39 of Roanoke. Brown was taken into custody without incident and charged with robbery.
More than six police cars have been spotted at the Home Trust Bank on Brambleton Road in Roanoke City. No further details to report. Check back for updates.
On Sunday, August 7 at 3:34 a.m., Roanoke Fire-EMS was dispatched for reports of a motor vehicle accident and structure fire on the 3700 block of Peters Creek Rd. First arriving units found a commercial building fully involved with heavy smoke and flames. Due to the size of the fire, only a defensive fire attack was performed. The occupants of the vehicle were transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
There were no other injuries reported from the incident. The fire was determined to be accidental, caused by the motor vehicle crashing into the building. The estimated cost of damages to the building and its contents are approximately $350,000.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — A teen was sentenced Friday to 10 years behind bars for shooting and wounding two fellow students at a Virginia high school last year.
A judge in Newport News, Christopher Papile, handed down a punishment that will include time in a juvenile detention center as well as state prison, The Virginian-Pilot reported.
The teen was 15 at the time of the shooting at Heritage High School in Newport News, a shipbuilding town near the Atlantic Coast.
“I can’t ignore that he brought a gun to school, got into an altercation, and decided to pull the gun out, shot it many times, hitting these two victims,” Papile said in court.
Noting that the teen fired the shots in a crowded hallway, the judge said he was “flabbergasted that it wasn’t much worse.”
A 17-year-old student with whom the teen was fighting was shot at least three times, including in the side of his face. Another 17-year-old student, an innocent bystander who was running away, was struck in her leg. Both students have recovered from their wounds, according to court documents.
Prosecutors had asked the judge for a 10-year sentence, while public defenders requested five years in a juvenile detention center.
The judge noted that the teen had already been charged with shooting someone else — and had pleaded guilty — at the time of the shooting at the high school.
“It wasn’t the first time he had taken out a gun and shot somebody,” Papile said.
(Roanoke PD) On August 4 at approximately 9:50 a.m., Roanoke Police Officers on routine patrol in the 400 block of Elm Avenue SE saw an individual in a parked vehicle that they knew had active felony warrants. Two marked patrol vehicles blocked the immediate exit routes for the subject’s vehicle, in an attempt to keep the individual from fleeing. The suspect, identified as Tyler A. Jones, 32 of Roanoke, rammed into both patrol vehicles and managed to flee the scene. Patrol units immediately engaged in a pursuit with Jones, who was traveling at a high rate of speed with little regard for traffic or other vehicles.
The pursuit continued until Riverland Rd SE near Garden City Blvd SE where the man attempted to illegally pass another vehicle that was turning. Jones struck the vehicle that was turning and lost control of his vehicle. The suspect’s vehicle left the roadway, rolled several times before coming to a stop. Jones exited the vehicle and attempted to flee the scene on foot. After a brief foot pursuit, officers apprehended Jones and took him into custody.
Additional officers located an adult female passenger in the vehicle who was unresponsive. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the woman to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Roanoke Fire-EMS also checked out the driver of the other vehicle that was struck on scene as a precaution, but that driver was not transported to the hospital. No Roanoke Police Officers were injured during this incident and all patrol vehicles involved are still in service at this time.
Jones was also transported to the hospital by Roanoke Police for treatment of what appeared to be minor injuries. After his release from the hospital, he was taken to the Roanoke City Jail and charged with two counts of assault on law enforcement officer and felony eluding. The active warrants for revocation of a suspended sentence on a previous narcotics charge and felony eluding from Roanoke County were also served.
In accordance with department policy, the Virginia State Police were notified and will be utilized to investigate this motor vehicle crash that resulted from the suspect eluding Roanoke Police. Please reach out to VSP for further questions regarding that investigation.
MGN
UPDATE From Roanoke City Police: The victim in this case has been identified as John Q. Harris, 43 years of age from Asheville, NC.
The Offender in this case has been identified as Lloyd A. Harris, 40 years of age from Roanoke, VA. He has been charged with second degree murder and arrested.
The two men are brothers.
NEWS RELEASE: On July 30, 2022 at approximately 1:40 PM, the City of Roanoke E-911 Center advised Roanoke Police Officers of a person with a Gun Shot Wound in the 800 block of Hershberger Rd NW. Once Officers arrived, they found an adult male inside of a residence with life threatening injuries. Roanoke Fire-EMS personnel pronounced the male deceased on scene. One canine was found deceased on scene and a second canine was transported to emergency veterinarian care where it was pronounced deceased. The victim’s identity will be released after next-of-kin is properly notified.
The suspect in this case was located and is in custody at this time. The victim and suspect were known to each other and there is no on-going danger to the public. This remains an active homicide investigation and no further details can be released at this time.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call (540)344-8500 and share what you know. You can also text us at
Photo: Roanoke City Jail
(JULY 29 UPDATE): — Roanoke Police have arrested the suspect, identified as Richard Quarles 26 years of age for the murder of Leeann Haun and charged him with second degree murder. There are no further updates available at this time and this remains an on-going investigation.
(JULY 28 UPDATE): The victim in this incident has been identified as Leeann Amber Haun, 37 years of age from Roanoke, VA
(PREVIOUS) : On July 22, 2022 at approximately 04:21 AM, the City of Roanoke E-911 Center advised Roanoke Police Officers of a suspicious situation at Belmont Park. Upon arrival, Officers found an unresponsive female with injuries. Roanoke Fire-EMS personnel pronounced the woman deceased on scene. The victim’s identity will be released after next-of-kin is properly notified. According to the autopsy, cause of death was from a gun shot wound. No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been made regarding this investigation. Further details on this investigation 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.
(PREVIOUS): Roanoke Police are investigating after a person was found dead in Belmont Park – formerly Jackson Park – this morning around 4:30.
From Roanoke County Police Department: On Wednesday July 27, 2022, about 9:13pm a 2003 Mazda Protégé was traveling northbound in the 2400 block of Catawba Valley Dr in Roanoke County. Ms. Lester was a pedestrian crossing Catawba Valley Dr and was struck by the Mazda. Ms. Lester was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Mazda remained on scene and is cooperating with the investigation. Speed is not believed to be a factor in the crash, nor are drugs or alcohol. The investigation is ongoing and no charges are pending. The roadway was closed for a period of time, but is back open to traffic.
