Crime and Public Safety

DANVILLE, Va. (AP) – Authorities say an 11-year-old boy who was pulled from the Dan River in Virginia by rescue personnel has died. The Danville Register & Bee reports the Danville Fire Department responded to a call behind a car dealership shortly before 4 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. Battalion Chief Bill Smotherman says two children were playing behind the car dealership when one child turned around and saw that the other was gone. Smotherman says the boy was pulled from the river by fire department members and brought to the shore. Rescue personnel performed CPR on the boy. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

RoCo Fire and Rescue photo

Roanoke County Fire and Rescue responded just before 1 in the Vinton area to a residential structure fire. Crews found smoke coming from the front of a two-story brick structure and two occupants who had evacuated safely. The fire was under control in 15 minutes. The house was occupied by two adults; they will be displaced but did not need further assistance.

Two adult males were taken the hospital following a shooting in the 28 hundred block of Bluestone Avenue in Northeast Roanoke last night. Neither injury appeared to be life-threatening. The second victim had actually fled the scene but was stopped on I-581 and transported to the hospital. No arrests have been made yet.

Alleghany, Va. – At the request of the Alleghany Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Salem Field Office is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Thursday (June 9, 2022). Once the state police completes its investigation, the findings will be turned over to the Commonwealth’s Attorney for final review and adjudication.

The incident began at approximately 11:30 p.m. when a deputy with the Alleghany Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on the eastbound side of Interstate 64, at the 20 mile marker, for a speeding violation. During the traffic stop, a drug K-9 was requested. When the K-9 arrived the subject was asked by deputies to exit the vehicle. The subject refused to exit the 2005 Toyota Camry and fled the scene of the traffic stop and a pursuit was initiated. Deputies conducted a rolling road block and stopped the vehicle. The suspect discharged a firearm at the deputies, and the deputies returned fire striking the suspect.

The driver, Jody Allen Kern, 44, of Covington, Va., was struck by the return gun fire. Kern was transported to Carillion Roanoke Memorial Hospital with non-life threating injuries.

Charges are pending for Attempted Capital Murder and possession of Narcotics.

No law enforcement officers were injured in the exchange and a firearm was recovered at the scene.

(from Roanoke PD) On June 9 at approximately 12:00 a.m., Roanoke Police were notified by the City of Roanoke E-911 Center of a person with a gunshot wound in the 700 block of Hunt Avenue NW. Responding officers located an adult male with what appeared to be a critical gunshot wound in a parking lot in the area. Roanoke Fire-EMS personnel pronounced the man deceased on scene. His identity will be released after next-of-kin is properly notified.
Details about what led to the shooting are limited at this time. No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been 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.

The Transportation Security Administration is preparing for an increase in travelers during the summer months and some current travelers might be rusty when it comes to the rules at the TSA security checkpoint. Some flyers are unaware or have forgotten there is a “3-1-1” rule on liquids, gels, and aerosols which can increase wait times.  Many of these items include everyday products such as bottled drinks, sunscreen, toothpaste, and more. Travelers should check online for more guidance.

The Transportation Security Administration is also reminding flyers about the protocols when it comes to firearms. Firearms must be unloaded, ammunition must be in its original box, it must be locked in a hard sided case, and be checked in at the check-in counter to be transported in the belly of the plane. TSA Spokesperson Lisa Farbstein on the 3-1-1 rule:

 

From Roanoke City Police Department – On June 5, 2022 at approximately 11:00 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified by the City of Roanoke E-911 Center of a suspicious call regarding a person down in the 1700 block of Melrose Avenue NW. Responding officers located an unresponsive adult male lying on the ground in the area. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the man to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Further investigation indicated that the man was involved in a physical altercation with an adult male subject who was located on scene by officers. That man was transported to the Roanoke Police Department for an interview with Detectives. It was determined that the men engaged in a verbal altercation, which escalated to a physical fight. The incident appears to be isolated and the two men are known to one another. While being treated at the hospital, the injured man passed away from injuries sustained during the physical altercation.

As of this release, no charges have been filed regarding this offense, but Detectives will be consulting with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. This is an ongoing homicide investigation.

Montgomery County photo

On Sunday June 5, 2022 deputies received a report of a missing adult. Friends and family had been unable to contact 44 year old Crystal Hannah of Elliston.  During the course of the investigation the remains of Crystal Hannah were located in a wooded area in the 2600 block of Northfork Road in Elliston. After consulting with the Montgomery County Commonwealth Attorney, 38 year old James Hunter Stallard was charged with second degree murder and concealing a dead body. Stallard is being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

CHESTERFIELD, Va. (AP) — One person was fatally shot and five other people were wounded by gunfire in a shooting Friday near Richmond, authorities said.

The Chesterfield County Police Department said in a statement that police were responding to reports of shots fired at about 9:38 p.m. in Chester, Virginia.

Arriving officers discovered a man suffering from a gunshot wound, police said. He died at the scene. Five others were shot and taken to local hospitals or other treatment facilities, authorities said.

Two other people suffered non-gun-related injuries, authorities said.

An investigation is ongoing.

Chester is about 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of Richmond.

 

New: Roanoke Police have arrested the suspect, identified as Keandra S. Smith, 29 of Roanoke, and charged him with second degree murder regarding the homicide of Grover W. Edwards III, 40 of Roanoke.

This remains an ongoing investigation and there are no further updates at this time.

 

 

Previous: (from Roanoke PD) On June 3, 2022 at approximately 11:30 a.m., Roanoke Police were notified by the City of Roanoke E-911 Center of a person with a gunshot wound in the 3800 block of Williamson Road NW. Responding officers located an adult male with what appeared to be critical injuries. Roanoke Fire-EMS personnel pronounced him deceased on scene. The man’s identity will be released after next-of-kin is properly notified. The suspect was located close to the scene and was detained by officers shortly after the offense occurred. The person was transported to the Roanoke Police Department for an interview with Detectives.

As of this release, no charges have been filed regarding this offense. No additional suspects are being sought and this appears to be an isolated incident between the parties involved. There is no ongoing threat to our community regarding this incident. This is an ongoing homicide investigation. Nearby schools were placed on hold and secure as a precaution, but were not directly affected. There was no direct threat to those schools