Crime and Public Safety
On June 9, 2021 at approximately 2:00 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified of shots fired in the area near the Berglund Center. While responding, officers were notified that there was an injured person on scene. Officers located a juvenile male with what appeared to be a non-life threatening gunshot wound inside the event center. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the teen to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Preliminary investigation indicates the incident happened in the parking lot by the Berglund Center, and shortly after the victim ran inside. Officers did not locate any suspects on scene and no arrests have been made at this time. This remains an ongoing investigation and no further information is available at the time of this release.
Blacksburg Police say they have received multiple reports alleging a “substance used to cause cognitive impairment had been added to their drinks” at the the Centro Taco Bar. Police say so far, there is no evidence to substantiate those claims, and Centro has been fully cooperative. Today’s news release does not indicate if there is any possible connection between this investigation and the murder of Jerry Smith Tuesday night; Smith did consulting work for the business. Virginia Tech linebacker Isi Etute, now suspended from both the team and university, is charged with Smith’s murder.
NEWS RELEASE: Over the past several months, the Blacksburg Police Department received multiple complaints and social media reports from individuals who believed a substance used to cause cognitive impairment had been added to their drinks while visiting Centro Taco Bar. An investigation is currently ongoing by the Blacksburg Police in conjunction with the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) and the Virginia Department of Forensic Science. Centro Taco Bar is fully cooperating with investigators, allowing full access to their facility, including the high quality surveillance system. At this time investigators have not found any evidence to sustain the claims, but the investigation is ongoing. However, Centro Taco Bar was found to be in violation of COVID-19 restrictions. The establishment has been advised of these findings and ABC has issued a warning. The Blacksburg Police Department will continue to investigate future claims of this nature and encourages individuals to come forward with any information.
(Update 6/3) Etute now faces a preliminary hearing in Montgomery County on September 23rd.
Blacksburg Police have arrested an 18-year-old suspect suspect for a homicide last night on the 100 block of North Main Street. The victim is identified as 40-year-old Jerry Smith. Police say Isimemem Etute is charged with second-degree murder. Officials say the two were acquaintances but are releasing few other details at this time.
Etute is a freshman linebacker on the Virginia Tech football team. He arrived on campus earlier this year and participated in spring practice. Virginia Tech says he is suspended from the team and the university.
UPDATED NEWS RELEASE: This continues to be a complex, ongoing investigation. The victim is Mr. Jerry Smith ,a 40 year old male who resided in the Town of Blacksburg. This investigation has revealed that Mr. Smith and Mr. Etute were acquaintances. Witnesses have been identified and interviewed, and are cooperating with investigators. There is no reason to believe there is any ongoing threat to the public.
PREVIOUS: The Blacksburg Police Department responded to 119 N. Main St for a welfare check at 10:30 PM on June 01, 2021. On scene officers located a deceased male victim. Detectives were called to the scene to initiate a death investigation Investigators ruled the death a homicide. Through the investigation Mr. Isimemen Etute was identified as a person of interest and later charged with 2nd Degree Murder. Currently Mr. Etute is being held at the Montgomery County Jail without bond. This is an ongoing investigation anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact the Blacksburg Police Department at (540)443-1400 or you can remain anonymous by calling the Blacksburg Police Tip Line at (540)961-1819 or by emailing ciu@blacksburg.gov.
(from Roanoke PD) On June 1 at approximately 7:15 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified of shots fired and property damage in the area of 8th Street and Loudon Avenue NW. Responding officers located property damage and evidence of a shooting, but no victims or suspects were located on scene. A short time later, at approximately 8:20 p.m., Roanoke Police were advised that a person with a gunshot wound had arrived via personal transport to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Officers responded to the hospital and
spoke with the adult male victim, who was being treated for injuries related to what appeared to be a non-life threatening injury.
Preliminary investigation indicates this incident and the scene at 8th Street and Loudon Avenue NW are connected. No arrests have been made at this time, and this remains an ongoing investigation. No further information is available 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 274637; please begin the text with “RoanokePD” to ensure it’s properly sent. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous.
NEWS RELEASE: On June 2, 2021, at approximately 1:57 am, the Martinsville-Henry County 911 Center received a call that an individual had been shot on S & L Court, Collinsville, Virginia. When deputies arrived on scene at approx. 1:59 am, they found Mason Wasoski, 19, of Stuart, Virginia, inside his vehicle. It appears Wasoski had suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Wasoski was air-lifted to Roanoke, Virginia for treatment of life-threatening injuries. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office is currently processing the scene and actively following leads in this case. This incident remains under investigation. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office would like to encourage the public to come forward with any information they may have on this case. This investigation is ongoing, anyone having information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at 276-638-8751 or Crimestoppers at 63-CRIME (632-7463). The Crimestoppers Program offers rewards up to $2500.00 for information related to crime. The nature of the crime and the substance of the information determine the amount of reward paid.
Roanoke City Police are working with a handful of other local agencies and the public, looking for an 8 year old autistic girl who went missing from Florida Avenue Northwest around 11pm last night. CeCelia “Ce Ce” Patterson was last seen wearing a black dress with gray leggings and a blue hat. Roanoke Police said an hour later there were no further updates. Residents in the area are being asked to search their property for CeCe Patterson and call 9-1-1 if they have any information. Roanoke City Police Deputy Chief Chester Smith:
The FBI is again asking for the public’s help in solving the murders of two women 25 years ago in Shenandoah National Park. The bodies of Julie Williams and Lollie Winans were found at their back country campsite June 1st, 1996; the women had been bound and their throats were slashed. The killings have never been solved.
FBI NEWS RELEASE: Twenty-five years ago, two young female hikers decided to do what many people do for exercise, relaxation and sport – hike through the Shenandoah National Park; however their journey ended when they were murdered at their backcountry campsite near Skyland Resort in Virginia.
The bodies of 24 year old, Julianne “Julie” Williams and 26 year old, Laura “Lollie” Winans were found by Park Rangers on June 1st, 1996, after Lollie’s dog – Taj, was located wandering the paths and turned over to Rangers.
The initial investigative, media and community response to these murders was enormous, and generated leads that would have investigators interview individuals all across the country. To this day this investigation continues to grip the consciousness of Julie and Lollie’s family and friends and those who have worked diligently to identify and bring to justice the person(s) responsible for this senseless crime.
Five years ago today, FBI Richmond distributed a press release imploring the public for assistance in sharing an FBI Seeking Information poster, we are again asking for the public’s assistance.
The beauty of Virginia’s Parks and Trails are enticing to people, not just from Virginia, but other states; and during these outdoor adventures people come across other hikers and visitors – some who make a memorable impression. Over the past twenty-five years we are cognizant that those who were hiking in the Park at the time of the murders, were visiting local establishments and even resided in the area may not be local to Virginia any longer – therefore it is crucial that this case continues to be shared throughout the country – it is possible there are people anywhere from Virginia to the west coast that could have information valuable to investigators.
The FBI has updated the Seeking Information posters with additional photos of Julie and Lollie. The investigation into their murder continues to be a joint effort by the FBI Richmond Field Office, the National Park Service and the Virginia State Police. No bit of information is insignificant, and your tip could be the piece of evidence that brings closure to this twenty-five year old case. If you have information to share, please contact your local FBI office, FBI Richmond at 804-261-1044 or send tips to https://tips.fbi.gov/.
NEWS RELEASE: On May 30, 2021 at approximately 9:00 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified of a person with a gunshot wound in the 1100 block of Orange Avenue NW. Responding officers located an adult female victim with what appeared to be a non-life threatening injury outside of a business in the area. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported her to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the incident did not occur in the 1100 block of Orange Avenue NW. Evidence of a shooting was located in the 600 block of 11th Street NW. It appears as though the two incidents are connected.
No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been made regarding this incident. No further information is available 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 274637; please begin the text with “RoanokePD” to ensure it’s properly sent. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous.