Crime and Public Safety
(News Release) ROANOKE, Va. – In a ceremony [last] Thursday evening, Christopher Robert Kavanaugh was sworn in as United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. The Honorable Lisa O. Monaco, Deputy Attorney General for the Department of Justice, administered the oath office at a private ceremony at the Department of Justice in Washington D.C.
President Biden nominated Kavanaugh to be the United States Attorney on August 10, 2021. The United States Senate confirmed his nomination on October 5. It is the honor of my life to serve as United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. I know that the federal prosecutors here tirelessly serve the citizens of the Western District of Virginia in their pursuit of justice, and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead such a talented and dedicated team of public servants,” U.S. Attorney Kavanaugh said today. “I look forward to working closely with our law enforcement partners, defense counsel, and the court in serving the District.”
U.S. Attorney Kavanaugh, 41, of Charlottesville, is a career federal prosecutor, having served as an Assistant United States Attorney for both the United States Attorney’s Office in Charlottesville as well as the District of Columbia. During his career, Mr. Kavanaugh directed numerous multi-agency investigations and prosecutions, including the hate crimes prosecution of James Fields for the August 12, 2017 car attack in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Kavanaugh also served as the District’s chief national security prosecutor, and spent time supervising and training fellow prosecutors while serving as the Counsel to the U.S. Attorney and Senior Litigation Counsel. Most recently, Mr. Kavanaugh was Senior Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
(from Roanoke PD) On October 10 at approximately 2:30 a.m., Roanoke Police were notified of a person with a gunshot wound in the 4100 block of Melrose Avenue NW. Responding officers located a vehicle in the roadway near the intersection of Comer Street and Melrose Avenue NW. An unresponsive adult male with what appeared to be a serious gunshot wound was located in the vehicle. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the man to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Details about what led up to the shooting are limited at this time. No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been made. This is an ongoing investigation.
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. – Virginia State Police Trooper M.J. O’Dell is investigating a single vehicle crash, which resulted in a fatality. The crash occurred Friday (Oct 8) at 7:22 a.m. on Morewood Road., near Chestnut Creek Drive in Franklin County. A Toyota Camry was traveling west on Morewood Road, at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control, ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a fence. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Melissa Faye Leonard, 25, of Moneta, Va. Ms. Leonard was wearing her seatbelt and died at the scene. The male passenger was wearing his seatbelt and was not injured.
Update: The truck has been removed and all lanes are open again. Thank you for your patience.(from Roanoke PD) On October 7, 2021 at approximately 12:15 a.m., Roanoke Police were notified of a person with a gunshot wound in the 1000 block of Morehead Avenue SE. Responding officers located an adult male with what appeared to be a non-life threatening gunshot wound. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the man to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Detectives are still working to determine the circumstances leading up to the shooting. No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been made at this time. This is an ongoing investigation.
Roanoke County, VA—October 6, 2021) Roanoke County Fire and Rescue responded at approximately 10:26a.m. on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 to the 3800block of Carson Road, in the Bonsack area, for the report of a residential structure fire. First arriving crews from Botetourt County Station 7found smoke showing from the rear of a two-story, single family home and marked it a working fire. The home was occupied by one adult at the time of the fire. He was able to escape unharmed. One cat was rescued from the home. The fire was brought under control in about 20minutes.There were no injuries. The family of three adults will be displaced and The American Red Cross is assisting the family. We appreciate the assistance of both Botetourt County and the City of Roanoke on this fire. The Roanoke County Fire Marshal’s Office is on scene to investigate a cause and provide a damage estimate. With this being Fire Prevention Week, Roanoke County Fire & Rescue would like to remind everyone of the importance of having working smoke alarms in your home.
Virginia State Police Trooper M.C. Scott is investigating a two-vehicle crash that resulted in two fatalities. The crash occurred on Tuesday, (Oct 5) at 10:39 p.m. on Route 122, two tenths of a mile south of Route 878 in Bedford County. A 1997 Honda Accord was traveling south on Route 122, when the vehicle crossed the center- line and struck a 2007 Toyota Scion, which was traveling north on Route 122.
The Honda was driven by Robin Lynn Hayslett, 35, of Bedford, Va. Ms. Hayslett was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash and died at the scene. The Toyota was driven by Aquiles Amparan, Jr., 57, of Bedford. Mr. Amparan was wearing his seatbelt and was transported to Bedford Memorial Hospital where he later died.
(from Virginia State Police) Virginia State Police Trooper T.M Wertz is investigating a motorcycle crash that resulted in a fatality. The crash occurred on September 30 at 9:12 a.m. at the intersection of Route 24 and Route 886, in Bedford County. A 2006 Suzuki C90 was traveling east on Route 24, when the driver lost control and was ejected. The unmanned motorcycle then struck a 2017 Jeep Cherokee in the rear. The Suzuki was driven by Brian Paul Lowman, 62, of Evington, Va. Mr. Lowman was wearing his helmet and was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Mr. Lowman died on October 5, 2021 from injuries received in the crash. The Jeep was driven by Shirley W. Wheeler, 80, of Goodview. Ms. Wheeler was wearing her seatbelt and was not injured.
(from Roanoke PD) On October 1, 2021 at approximately 3:30 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified of shots fired in the 3100 block of Melrose Avenue NW. As officers were responding to that location, they were notified that an adult male with a non-life threatening gunshot wound had arrived via personal transport to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Officers who responded to the scene located evidence of a shooting, but no further injuries were reported to police. No suspects were located on scene. Preliminary investigation indicates the victim was in a vehicle traveling West when he was struck by gunfire. The victim then drove to Salem Turnpike/Melrose Avenue NW where he left his personal vehicle and was transported to the hospital in another vehicle.