Crime and Public Safety
(from Roanoke PD) On October 25th, at about 12:30 am, Roanoke Police were dispatched to the 1800 Block Downing Street NW, in reference to a shooting. Upon officers arrival they located an adult male with what appeared to be a non-life threatening gun shot wound. Roanoke Fire-EMS responded to the scene and transported the male to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Officers were able to locate a residence in the immediate area where the shooting occurred. It was determined that the victim was at the residence when an altercation with a male occurred and the victim was shot and fled the residence. This is an on-going investigation and it is not believed to be related to the homicide on Gayle Street earlier in the evening. No arrest have been made in this incident.
FLOYD, Va. – Virginia State Police Senior Trooper A.G. Mackian is investigating a single vehicle crash which resulted in a fatality. The crash occurred Sunday (Oct 25) at 2:18 a.m. on Route 221, four tenths of a mile north of Route 761 in Floyd County. A 1998 Ford Mustang was traveling south on Route 221, when the vehicle ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree; ejecting the driver. The driver was identified as Katerina Renee Higgins, 18, of Willis, Va. Ms. Higgins was not wearing her seatbelt and died at the scene. The crash remains under investigation
(from Roanoke PD) On Saturday October 24 at about 4:25 am, Roanoke Police were notified than an adult male has arrived via personal vehicle at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital with a gun shot wound. Roanoke Officers responded and spoke with the male who advised he was traveling and pulled over in the area of 14th Street and Moorman Road NW and was standing outside his vehicle when an unknown vehicle drove by and he was shot. The male appeared to have non-life threatening wounds.
Additional Officers responded to the area and were unable to locate a crime scene. Details on this incident are limited at this time. No arrests have been made regarding this 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.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Defense attorneys call it “the jury penalty.” It’s a centuries-old sentencing system in Virginia that calls for juries to decide punishment for criminal defendants, and often leads to stiffer sentences than what judges give or prosecutors offer in plea deals. This sentencing structure has been in place for 224 years, but under a bill recently approved by the state legislature, Virginia is expected to turn sentencing over to judges, joining the vast majority of states around the country. Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, a strong supporter of criminal justice reform, is expected to sign the bill into law.
The proposal sparked fierce debate during a special legislative session focused on criminal justice and police reform. Supporters of the change said giving judges the sentencing responsibility will result in fairer sentences, but prosecutors predicted it will result in more jury trials and therefore require additional judges, court clerks and public defenders.
The bill’s sponsor, Democratic Sen. Joe Morrissey from Richmond, said that under the current system, many people charged with crimes in Virginia are so fearful of getting a severe sentence from a jury that they often accept a plea deal from prosecutors that includes a longer sentence than they would typically get from a judge.
Unlike judges, juries in Virginia are not given state sentencing guidelines that would tell them what a typical sentence would be for a particular crime, and they tend to hand out stiffer sentences. In fiscal year 2019, sentences handed down by juries went above sentencing guidelines 37% of the time, and in 2018, juries exceeded sentencing guidelines nearly 50% of the time, according to annual reports by the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission.
“Jurors have no idea what a normal sentence is,” Morrissey said. “That’s why it is important to have a judge sentencing who has the guidelines and can put it into context.” But prosecutors said turning sentencing over to judges will result in more defendants going to trial instead of accepting a plea deals, adding strain to a judicial system already struggling with a large backload of cases caused by the postponement of jury trials during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Prosecutors believe the state will end up needing more judges, public defenders, court clerks and support staff to handle longer trial dockets.
(from Roanoke City PD) On October 21 at approximately 2:00 pm, Roanoke Police were notified of a shooting that occurred on the Southbound I-581/Route 220 Corridor. Responding officers located a damaged vehicle with what appeared to be a bullet hole in the driver’s side door. No one was struck by gunfire. Officers determined that the victim’s vehicle attempted to merge onto I-581 Southbound at Orange Avenue when it encountered the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect was traveling Southbound on I-581. Neither driver altered their speed to safely merge, which caused the victim’s vehicle to collide with the guard rail. Both vehicles continued Southbound.
At some point, the driver of the suspect vehicle brandished a weapon and shot at the victim. A single bullet struck the victim’s vehicle. The suspect was determined to be Jaylan Holland, 19 of Roanoke. There is no indication that the individuals involved are known to one another. Warrants were obtained, and officers began searching for Mr. Holland. Later that night, the department’s Violent Suppression Team was able to locate and arrest Mr. Holland at a business in Salem. Jaylan Holland, 19 of Roanoke, was arrested and charged with shooting into an occupied vehicle. The investigation remains ongoing.
“This is an excellent example of what we have said numerous times and will continue to say,” Roanoke Police Chief Sam Roman stated. “If you choose to engage in violent behavior or criminal activity, we are going to do everything we can to ensure you are held accountable for your actions. This act of gun violence was inexcusable, and I am extremely thankful that no
one was seriously injured during this incident.”
State Police have released new information surrounding the death and disappearance of a Buena Vista man almost 17 months ago. It suggests clear signs of a violent struggle as police and the victim’s parents ask for help. Chad Austin was 30 when he disappeared near the Blue Ridge Parkway on Memorial Day weekend of 2019; his remains were found last March. Thursday would have been Chad’s birthday, and one day ahead of that, State Police divulged some new details in the case. Among them: two knives belonging to Chad were found in that area – in the open position, there were signs of a struggle and texts on his phone anticipating a confrontation. Police say one person committed the murder, but others witnessed it. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
NEWS RELEASE: AMHERST CO., Va. – On Oct. 22, 2020, a Buena Vista family will be honoring, instead of celebrating, their loved one’s birthday. Chad H. Austin would have turned 32 on Thursday, had his remains not been recovered in Amherst County in May. With the development of several new leads related to his disappearance and death, the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s (BCI) Salem Field Office continues to work collaboratively with the Buena Vista Police Department and Amherst County Sheriff’s Office to render an arrest in this case.
Law enforcement were alerted at approximately 12:30 p.m. on May 28, 2019 to Chad’s silver 2006 Hyundai Tiburon being found abandoned about 2 miles down the turnoff for Panther Falls Road. His beloved, mixed-breed dog, Gunner, was found unharmed and locked inside the car. Investigators were able to confirm that Chad was last seen on Memorial Day, May 27, 2019, by campers in the Panther Falls/Shady Mountain area, east of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
A search of the immediate area resulted in several personal items belonging to Chad, to include two knives, being found about a half mile from his abandoned car. Both knives were found with the blades in the open position. Additional forensic evidence collected at that location confirms that a struggle took place between Chad and his killer that ultimately led to Chad’s death. Six months after he was reported missing, Chad’s wallet turned up at Panther Falls.
“We especially want to hear from the individual(s) who returned Chad’s wallet to the scene more than six months after his disappearance,” said Special Agent Kevin Zirkle, Virginia State Police BCI Salem Field Office. “It was not overlooked on previous searches of that area. We know it was intentionally placed there and, perhaps, there is a very reasonable explanation. We have been trying to figure out why that person, though, has not contacted us yet.”
State police has also been able to confirm through text messages on Chad’s phone that in the days leading up to his disappearance and death, he was anticipating being confronted by a group of individuals who were determined to settle a disagreement with him.
“We have no reason whatsoever to believe that Chad was looking for trouble, but we do know that he had a reason to suspect a confrontation was inevitable. We know there are additional people in the Buena Vista community who know certain pieces of information related to Chad’s death, but are fearful to come forward for a number of reasons. We want to reassure these individuals that our number one goal is to correctly identify the person who did this to Chad. We know this was the act of one person, but that others were witness to his murder. We need to hear from those persons in order to render an arrest and see justice done for Chad and his family,” Zirkle said.
In March 2020, investigators returned to the Panther Falls area on a tip and subsequently recovered skeletal remains, which the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed as Chad Austin.
“To even fathom that our son’s life was taken so early, is so hard for our family to bear,” said Ellen Austin, Chad’s mother, at a news conference Wednesday (Oct. 21) along the Blue Ridge Parkway. “To have Chad missing for a year and then to find out your son is dead has been horrific. Some were saying that at least you found him, but that doesn’t even begin to help us have closure because there are still so many unanswered questions. That’s why we need your help – everyone’s help. No matter how big or small, if you know something, please call state police or the Buena Vista Police. Please do this for our family.”
Those with information about Chad are encouraged to call the Virginia State Police at (540) 375-9589 or contact us by email at questions@vsp.virginia.gov.
Salem Fire and EMS responded to a fire on Sparrow Lane in the 900 block late yesterday afternoon. Two people were at home at the time and one person was treated at the scene. The blaze was brought under control in about 20 minutes. The damage is now estimated at 45-thousand dollars. The two residents displaced are with family members.
(Salem Fire-EMS release) The Salem Fire & EMS Department responded to a residential structure fire at 913 Sparrow Lane at approximately 5:52 p.m. Monday evening. Two people were home at the time of the fire and one occupant was treated for a minor injury at the scene.The first units arrived within four minutes of receiving the call and found heavy smoke coming from the structure. The fire was discovered in the basement and brought under control within 20 minutes. The building did sustain significant fire and smoke damage, but the fire was contained to the basement area of the home.Approximately 18 personnel from the Salem Fire & EMS Department (Truck 1, Engine 2, Engine 3, Medic 802, Medic 803, Medic 804, Battalion 1 & Fire Medic 1) responded to the call. Roanoke Fire & EMS (Engine 13) assisted with additional responses, while crews were assigned to the fire.The Salem Fire Marshal’s Office has ruled the fire accidental and estimated the damage at$45,000. Two residents were displaced by the fire and they are being assisted by family.
Bob Cowell
The Roanoke Police Department has hired its first “Rapid Engagement of Support in Event of Trauma,” Coordinator – or RESET. It could be the first of two new employees with a focus on the long-term reduction in gun violence. WFIR’s Gene Marrano has that story:
(from Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office today) On October 19, 2020, a citizen contacted the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office after seeing a request for information on our Facebook page, related to a hit and run. Deputies located the suspect vehicle, a white Chevrolet 1500 truck, at Massie’s Mobile Home Park, approximately two miles from the scene. After speaking with the owner and several other witnesses, 23-year-old Travis Castillo of Christiansburg, was taken into custody and charged with two counts of felony hit and run with bodily injury. Castillo is currently being held at the Montgomery County Jail with no bond.The female victim is in stable condition and the male victim is in critical condition, both are at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Their names will not be released at this time. We appreciate the public for providing multiple tips and information to us, to bring this case to a quick resolution.
(previous headline) Two people sustained serious injuries after they were hit by a car last night in the 21 hundred block of Peppers Ferry Rd in Montgomery County. Deputies say they found two pedestrians, a woman and a man in a wheelchair, who were hit by a vehicle that left the scene. Authorities believe an early 2000s model; Chevrolet brand truck or SUV may have been involved and should have extensive damage to the front passenger side.
NEWS RELEASE: On October 17, 2020 at approximately 2:45am, Roanoke Police were dispatched to a shooting with injuries [outside the 7-Eleven] in the 3600 block of Williamson Road NW. Responding officers located an adult male victim lying in the parking lot of the business. He was pronounced deceased on scene by Roanoke Fire-EMS personnel. His identification will be released after next of kin is notified.