Crime and Public Safety
(from Roanoke PD) On November 1, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified by the City of Roanoke E-911 Center of a person with a gunshot wound at the intersection of 12th Street and Staunton Avenue NW. Responding officers located an adult male inside a vehicle with what appeared to be a critical gunshot wound. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the man to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. A short time later, officers were notified that the man had succumbed to his injuries.
Preliminary information indicated this injury could have been self-inflicted or accidental in nature; however, officers continued to conduct a thorough investigation. Due to the evidence gathered on scene, it was ultimately determined that this incident was a homicide. Further details about what led to the shooting are limited at this time. No suspects have been located and no arrests have been made regarding this investigation.
Photo: Ian Price/WFIR
Roanoke’s newest police chief is now on the job. Scott Booth was sworn in today, promising he can reduce violent crime here just as he did as chief if Danville. City leaders say one of the main reasons they chose Booth to lead the force was his record in Danville, where crime numbers decreased significantly in his five years as chief. Booth says a key component is more effective community policing. It’s a a practice previous Roanoke chiefs have talked about and employed, but Booth says it needs to be done better. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones:
It’s Halloween, and a Triple-A spokesperson says it’s a time for fun, not tragic nightmares causing injury, or worse. WFIR’s Alex Torres has more on what to be aware of tonight:
Roanoke County Police officers responded to 6842 Walrond Dr. (Walrond Park) today in reference to a wellbeing check. While on scene the incident changed to a death investigation and CID was called out to investigate. There is no danger to the community and officers are no longer on scene. Investigation is still active pending notification of next of kin.
(from Roanoke PD) On October 26, 2023 at approximately 2:10 a.m., Roanoke Police were notified by the City of Roanoke E-911 Center of a person with a gunshot wound in the 800 block of Hunt Avenue NW. Responding officers located an adult male with what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries outside of a residence in the area. Officers were then notified of additional victims related to this shooting. They located another adult male with what appeared to be non-life-threating injuries and an adult male with what appeared to be critical injures inside a residence in the area. The two men with less severe injuries were transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital by Roanoke Fire-EMS. Roanoke Fire-EMS personnel pronounced the other man deceased at the scene.
Preliminary investigation indicates that this is an isolated incident between involved parties. Officers detained several individuals who were on scene at the time of the shooting. Those individuals were transported to the Roanoke Police Department to speak with detectives. At this time, no arrests have been made and we are not searching for additional suspects. This remains an ongoing homicide investigation and further details are limited.
(from Roanoke PD) On October 2, 2023 at approximately 11:25 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified by the City of Roanoke E-911 Center of a person with a gunshot wound in the 1000 block of Glenn Ridge Road NW. Responding officers located a juvenile female victim with what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries and an adult female victim with what appeared to be more serious, but still non-life-threatening, injuries inside a residence in the area. The teen and woman were both transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Details about what led to this shooting are limited at this time. No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been made
(from Virginia State Police) On Sept. 28, 2023, multiple local, state and federal law enforcement agencies effected 24 search warrants in nine southwest Virginia localities. The search warrants are part of an extensive, ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of money laundering and illegal narcotic distribution network by retail establishments in Lee, Montgomery, Pulaski, Roanoke, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington and Wythe counties. No arrests were made as a result of today’s evidentiary search warrants. The investigation remains ongoing at this time.
The investigation involves the Buchanan, Dickenson, Carroll, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski, Roanoke, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell and Washington County sheriff’s offices; Gate City, Weber City, Abingdon, Damascus, Grundy, Richlands, Tazewell, Bluefield, Marion, Wythe, Galax, Pulaski, Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Radford police departments; Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Wytheville and Salem field offices; United States Postal Inspection Service; Drug Enforcement Administration; Virginia Attorney General’s Office; and the Lee, Montgomery, Pulaski, Roanoke, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington and Wythe County Commonwealth’s Attorneys.
(from VSP) At the request of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Salem Division, is conducting an investigation into the death of male subject on Crozier Drive in Elliston, Va.
Jason Miyares
Reducing violent crime – including what has happened cities like Roanoke, where gun-related homicides have spiked this year – starts with stiffer sentencing says Virginia’s Attorney General. Jason Miyares spoke last week with WFIR’s Gene Marrano on the issue: