Crime and Public Safety
(From Roanoke PD) On September 23 at approximately 1:15 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified of a person with a gunshot wound in the 1200 block of Pechin Avenue SE. Responding officers located an adult male in the area with what appeared to be a non-life threatening injury. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the man to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Officers located the suspect on scene and transported him to the Roanoke Police Department for an interview with detectives. No charges have been placed at this time.
Preliminary investigation indicates this is an isolated incident between the two men. Further details are limited at this time. There is no ongoing threat to the community.
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(from Roanoke PD) On September 17, 2021 at approximately 8:35 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified of a motor vehicle crash in the 3400 block of Norway Avenue NW. Responding officers located a vehicle crashed into a residence and an adult male in the vehicle. The adult male appeared to have been shot, and Roanoke Fire-EMS transported him to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment of what appeared to be serious injuries. A short time after officers arrived on Norway Avenue, they were notified that another adult male with a gunshot wound had arrived via personal transport to Lewis Gale Hospital. It is believed that both of the men were injured in the same incident.
Preliminary investigation indicates the offense occurred outside of a residence in the 300 block of Juniper Street NW. It is believed the man in the vehicle tried to drive away from the scene after he was injured, resulting in the crash. Both men are known to one another. No arrests have been made at this time regarding this incident, but it is an ongoing investigation. Police are not searching for additional suspects.
The man hired by the City of Roanoke to be its Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Coordinator – Chris Roberts – starts in that role on October 5. Roberts’ resume includes the Roanoke Valley Juvenile Detention Center and the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice. A $500,000 state grant will support his position and two outreach workers that will also be hired. Roberts says he arrives with a certain level of credibility:
The City of Roanoke announces the selection of Christopher Roberts as Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Coordinator, a two-year grant position, funded by the $500,000 Virginia Gun Violence Intervention Program Grant awarded to the City in July. Roberts will coordinate activities and programs between the City departments, community groups, stakeholders, and agencies in the awareness, suppression, intervention and prevention of youth and gang-related activity.
Roberts comes to the City with extensive experience in coaching, advising, counseling, and collaborating with youth, families, and community stakeholders to support at-risk youth. His professional background includes serving at the Roanoke Valley Juvenile Detention Center, Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice, Hope Tree Family Services Cottage, as a member of the Virginia Gang Investigators Associations, and as a board member of the Kirk Family YMCA.
In his position, Roberts will also establish and maintain partnerships with appropriate community groups and agencies, assist with data collection, and compile information on a comprehensive Youth and Gang Violence Community assessment report. In addition, he will be asked to identify community resources available to assist with implementation of projects, develop public awareness through documents and publicity materials.
“The addition of Christopher Roberts as our Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Coordinator is a vital component of the City’s multi-faceted response to address gun violence,” said City Manager Bob Cowell. “His experience and skills will be an asset to this important initiative as we work to restore order in our City.”
(Update 9-16) Roanoke Police have identified the victim of this incident as Lindsey P. Shook, 21 of Troutville.
UPDATE 9:40 AM: Roanoke Police say they don’t know yet what led to the fatal shooting of one and the critical injuring of another in the 3900 block of Melrose Avenue after gunshots were fired late last night inside of a Shell gas station there. Authorities say a woman was pronounced dead at the scene and a man was taken to the hospital with what appeared to be critical injuries.
Posted at 2:40 AM 9/15/21 — Roanoke police responded to the Shell gas station off of Melrose Avenue late last night following reports of gunshots being fired. Gas Station employees tell WDBJ-7 they heard and saw multiple shots fired from the outside into the convenience store — which had five to six people inside. An employee said he saw one person taken away in an ambulance.
Update: The Roanoke County Fire Marshal’s Office has determined that the structure fire which occurred at 4100 Wexford Court is accidental with the cause remaining under investigation. Damages are estimated at $10,000.00.(Roanoke County, VA—September 9, 2021) Roanoke County Fire and Rescue responded at 6:56p.m. on Thursday, September 9, 2021 to the 4100 block of Wexford Court, in the Cave Spring area, for the report of a commercial structure fire in an apartment building. First arriving crews from Station 3 (Cave Spring) found smoke showing from a two-story apartment building and marked it a working fire. The apartment was occupied by one adult at the time of the fire. The fire was brought under control in about 10minutes. The adult occupant and her cat are both safe and there were no injuries. The occupant of the apartment will be displaced but is staying with family who live in the area. The Roanoke County Fire Marshal’s Office is on scene to investigate a cause and provide a damage estimate.###
VSP Arrests 59 Impaired Drivers RICHMOND, Va. – Despite a significant decrease in fatal traffic crashes over the 2021 Labor Day holiday weekend for Virginia, there was still an alarming number of deaths among motorcyclists. Of the eight traffic deaths reported for the holiday weekend to date, four involved motorcycles and one involved a moped. During the 2020 Labor Day weekend, there were a total of 20 traffic fatalities on Virginia’s highways. State police arrested 59 impaired drivers on Virginia highways during the holiday statistical counting period.
“I can only hope that the reduction in traffic deaths during the Labor Day weekend is a sign of continued reductions for the remainder of the year,” said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “We haven’t seen holiday numbers like this since 2017. In order to further reduce and prevent traffic deaths and injuries on Virginia’s highways, we need the public’s help. The decisions are simple: drive smart, safe and sober.”
During the 2021 four-day holiday statistical counting period, the eight fatal traffic crashes occurred in the counties of Bedford, Charlotte, Hanover, Madison, Suffolk, and Wythe, along with the cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach. State police investigated a total of 778 traffic crashes during the holiday weekend.
The Virginia State Police participated in two annual, traffic-safety enforcement programs over the 2021 Labor Day weekend: Operation Crash Awareness Reduction Effort (CARE) and the Checkpoint Strikeforce, the anti-DUI enforcement and education program sponsored by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP). Operation CARE is a nationwide, state-sponsored traffic safety program that aims to reduce traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries caused by impaired driving, speeding and failing to use occupant restraints. Virginia State Police’s participation in the program began Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, at 12:01 a.m., and concluded at midnight Monday, Sept. 6, 2021.
As a result of state police traffic safety enforcement efforts during the 2021 statistical counting period, Virginia troopers:
- Stopped 4,602 speeders
- Stopped 1,591 reckless drivers
- Arrested 59 drivers for DUI/DUID
- Cited 402 seat belt violations
- Assisted 995 disabled/stranded motorists
Area near Mills Lane has now been opened after a chase that reportedly started on I-81
“It is a state police investigation …We are asking motorists to avoid the West Riverside Drive/ Mill Lane area where the investigation is taking place,” says a Salem spokesperson about an incident ongoing as of 3:50 pm. It has also been labeled as “multi-jurisdictional police investigation.” .
On September 7, 2021 at approximately 10:25 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified of shots fired in the 1500 block of Gordon Avenue SE. Officers responded to the scene but did not locate any evidence of shots fired in that area. A short time after the initial call, officers were notified of a person with a gunshot wound in the 1600 block of 16th Street SE. There, officers located an adult male outside of a residence with a non-life threatening gunshot wound. 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 regarding this incident. This is an ongoing investigation.