Crime and Public Safety
Roanoke Fire-EMS FB photo
(from Roanoke Fire-EMS) At 7:52pm, Roanoke Fire-EMS was dispatched to the 3700 block of Three Chop Ln SW for a brush fire. The fire was marked under control within 10 minutes of dispatch. The cause of the fire and extent of damage is under investigation.
At 10:03am, Roanoke Fire-EMS was dispatched to the 300 block of Hershberger Rd NW for a fire alarm. Upon arrival units found smoke coming from an apartment of a multi-family assisted living facility. The fire was put out within 10 minutes of dispatch and contained to the apartment of origin. Other apartments filled with smoke and were checked for extension, no further extension was found. The fire was officially marked under control at 10:23am. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
GROTTOES, Va. (AP) — Virginia State Police will investigate after a sheriff’s deputy responding to a call about a break-in fatally shot a man who authorities said charged at him with a knife.
The incident happened Friday afternoon in Augusta County. Deputies responding to a 911 call about the break-in encountered a man who ran away from a trailer and into nearby woods, according to a news release from state police.
The deputies followed him on foot. At the woodline, the man turned around and, wielding a knife, charged towards the deputy, the news release said. A deputy discharged his firearm, striking the man, Jeffrey J. Bruce, 48, of Grottoes.
State police said EMS personnel responded but Bruce died at the scene. A 9-inch folding knife was recovered, according to the news release. Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith requested the state police investigation.
Virginia State Police Trooper C.A. Thompson is investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash in Carroll County. The crash occurred May 8 at 12:05 a.m. on Route 52, less than a mile north of Sunny Side Road. A 2007 Ford Fusion was traveling through a curve in the southbound lane of Route 52 when it crossed the centerline and ran off the left side of the highway. The Ford struck an embankment, overturned and then struck a tree. The driver, Christopher S. Fugitt, 29, of Hillsville, Va., was ejected from the vehicle. He died at the scene. The passenger, Jarrett L. Hand, 48, of Hickory, N.C., also died at the scene.
(from Roanoke PD 5-12) We regret to inform you that the victim of this incident has succumbed to his injuries. He has been identified as Alvin Kasey, 40 of Roanoke.
On May 9, 2021 at approximately 2:40 a.m., Roanoke Police were notified of a person with a gunshot wound outside of a business in the 4300 block of Williamson Road NE. Responding officers located an adult male lying in a parking lot with what appeared to be a serious gunshot wound. RoanokeFire-EMS transported the man to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment.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.
Photo: Taniko Belt Facebook
ROANOKE POLICE UPDATE: Roanoke Police have arrested Todd Manns, 35 of Roanoke, and charged him with second-degree murder regarding the homicide of Taniko Belt. Throughout the course of the investigation, Detectives identified Mr. Manns as the suspect. Mr. Manns and Ms. Belt were known to one another, and we believe this is an isolated incident. Warrants for the above charges were obtained and served without incident on May 7th. We would like to thank the U.S. Marshals Capitol Area Regional Fugitive Task Force for their assistance taking Mr. Manns into custody.
PREVIOUS: Roanoke Police have identified the victim as Taniko Belt, 46 of Roanoke.
PREVIOUS: On May 2, 2021 at approximately 11:30 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified of shots fired near the intersection of Panorama Avenue NW and Westside Boulevard NW. As officers were responding to that location, they received reports of a motor vehicle crash on Peters Creek Road NW, between Shenandoah Avenue NW and Salem Turnpike NW. Officers responded to the crash and located a single vehicle in the median close to a power pole that was lying in the roadway. It appears as though the vehicle crashed into the pole and then came to rest in the median. Officers located the driver of the vehicle, an adult female, who was unresponsive. It was discovered that she had fatal gunshot wounds, and was pronounced deceased on scene by Roanoke Fire-EMS personnel.
Her identity will be released after her family is properly notified. Preliminary investigation indicates the original shots fired call is connected to the motor vehicle crash. It is believed that this incident started in the 3800 block of Panorama Drive NW. No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been made at this time. This is an ongoing homicide 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.
(Roanoke County, VA—May3, 2021) Roanoke County Fire and Rescue responded at about 2:00a.m (this morning) to the 2900 block of Tully Drive, in the Hollins area, for the report of a residential structure fire. First arriving crews from Station 5 (Hollins)found smoke showing from the front door of single-story home. The house was not occupied at the time of the fire and was under renovation. The fire was brought under control in about 45minutes. One firefighter was transported to the hospital as a precaution and was treated and released. No one will be displaced, as the home was not currently being occupied. We appreciate the help of the City of Roanoke Fire and EMS on this call. The Roanoke County Fire Marshal’s Office says the fire is still under investigation and damage is estimated at $8000.
MGN
(Roanoke County, VA—May1, 2021) Roanoke County Fire and Rescue responded at about 5:50p.m., on Saturday, May1, 2021 to the 5300 block of Hawthorne Road, in the North County area,for the report of a commercial fire alarm. First arriving crews from City of Roanoke Fire and EMS Engine 3 found smoke showing from a third story window of a large multi-story apartment building. The apartment was occupied by a single adult at the time of the fire. All occupants of the apartment building were able to evacuate without injury.The fire was knocked down in about ten minutes after the arrival of the first units.The building’s sprinkler system kept the fire controlled until the fire department could arrive. The damage from smoke and fire is minimal, though there is some water damage to the apartment where the fire occurred and the floors below. The occupant will be displaced and is being assisted by the American Red Cross. We appreciate the help of multiple unit from the City of Roanoke on this call. The Roanoke County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating and will provide a damage estimate. ###
HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) — A Virginia public works employee was killed Friday when a falling tree limb struck the worker while on the job, according to officials.
The City of Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation employee was working alongside a public utility staffer at Riven Rock Park when the accident happened, officials said in a statement posted to Facebook.
The other worker called 911 and attempted to give the victim medical aid, but the employee did not survive.
“We are truly saddened by today’s events, and we are grateful for the outpouring of support from our community members at this difficult moment for our colleague’s loved ones and our City of Harrisonburg team – especially our Department of Parks and Recreation,” City Manager Eric D. Campbell said in the statement.
The worker was not identified and an exact cause of death was not immediately given.
Jaquice Kearney – Family photo via RPD
Police have identified the 16-year-old fatally shot Monday along the 2900 block of Salem Turnpike as Jaquice Kearney. A 15-year-old is charged with his murder. Kearney was the first of two people killed by separate gunfire incidents in Roanoke within several hours. Police say a girl was the victim in the other shooting.
UPDATE: The victim of this incident has been identified as Jaquice Kearney, 16 of Roanoke.
UPDATE: Roanoke police say at 15-year-old is now charged with fatally shooting another teen yesterday near Salem Turnpike and 30th Street Northwest. Police say two teens were struck by gunfire, and one of them later died under hospital treatment. Two other juveniles were taken into custody for questioning, and one of them now faces a second-degree murder charge.
ROANOKE POLICE UPDATE: One of the juvenile males involved in this incident has succumbed to his injuries. This is now an active homicide investigation. Detectives have determined that all four people involved are known to one
another. One of the male juveniles, 15 of Roanoke, was charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault and two counts of use of a firearm in commission of a felony. As the suspect is a juvenile, we are unable to release further information regarding his identity at this time. The second juvenile was not charged regarding this incident. The juvenile was transported to Roanoke Valley Juvenile Detention Center without incident.
PREVIOUS: On April 26, 2021 at approximately 4:45 p.m., Roanoke Police were on a call the 2900 block of Salem Turnpike NW, when they heard shots fired and observed two male subjects running, one holding a firearm. Officers engaged in a foot pursuit with the subjects, but were not able to apprehend them at that time. Almost immediately after officers engaged in the foot pursuit, Roanoke Police were notified of a person with a gunshot wound in the area near 30th Street and Salem Turnpike NW. Other officers responded to that scene and located two juvenile males who had been shot. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported both victims to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment of what appeared to be serious injuries.
Officers were able to locate the two male suspects in a residence in the600 block of Naho Street NW. Shortly after locating both suspects, they were both taken into custody for questioning. Both were identified as juvenile males. At this time, no arrests have been made. This remains an ongoing investigation, and officers are working to determine the events leading up to the shooting.
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.
Richmond Police have made arrests in connection with a shooting at an apartment complex that killed a woman and her three month old child. WFIR’s Clark Palmer has that story
Three men have been arrested following Tuesday’s shooting at The Belt Atlantic apartments on Midlothian Turnpike in Richmond that claimed the life of a mother and her 3-month-old daughter, and sent three additional victims to the hospital. Police say 22-year -old Donald Hemmings, 23-year-old Shyheem Martin, and 19-year-old Shamondrick Perry, are charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Additional charges are pending. A 29-year-old woman and two young girls, ages 11 and 15, were also shot during the incident and remain in stable condition.