Crime and Public Safety https://www.pilotonline.com The Virginian-Pilot: Your source for Virginia breaking news, sports, business, entertainment, weather and traffic Wed, 31 Jul 2024 11:11:41 +0000 en-US hourly 30 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 https://www.pilotonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/POfavicon.png?w=32 Crime and Public Safety https://www.pilotonline.com 32 32 219665222 Man seriously injured in domestic shooting, Norfolk police say https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/07/30/man-seriously-injured-in-domestic-shooting-norfolk-police-say/ Tue, 30 Jul 2024 23:23:20 +0000 https://www.pilotonline.com/?p=7275551 A man was seriously injured in a domestic shooting in Norfolk Tuesday night, according to Norfolk police.

Police responded to the 100 block of Dover Circle, near East Severn Road in the East Belvedere neighborhood, following a 911 call at 5:23 p.m. Officers found a man with life-threatening injuries.

The victim has been taken to a hospital for treatment. No further information has been made available as of Tuesday evening.

The investigation is ongoing.

Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806, gavin.stone@virginiamedia.com

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7275551 2024-07-30T19:23:20+00:00 2024-07-31T07:11:41+00:00
Police identify 20-year-old man killed in Newport News shooting https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/07/30/police-identify-20-year-old-man-killed-in-newport-news-shooting/ Tue, 30 Jul 2024 17:43:06 +0000 https://www.pilotonline.com/?p=7274921 Police in Newport News have identified the man who was shot and killed Friday night on Settlement Lane.

At 11:52 p.m., Newport News police responded to a Shotspotter activation in the 500 block of Settlement Lane, in a northern part of the city near Fort Eustis. At the scene, emergency services found 20-year-old Kamron Thompson outside with at least one gunshot wound, according to a news release.

Thompson, of Newport News, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information about Thompson’s death is asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.

Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com

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7274921 2024-07-30T13:43:06+00:00 2024-07-30T13:52:59+00:00
Bicyclist killed after being struck by driver in Virginia Beach https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/07/29/bicyclist-killed-after-being-struck-by-driver-in-virginia-beach/ Mon, 29 Jul 2024 18:45:01 +0000 https://www.pilotonline.com/?p=7273634 VIRGINIA BEACH — A 34-year-old Pennsylvania man died after being struck by a vehicle while riding a bike on Saturday.

Police responded to the 900 block of General Booth Boulevard near the intersection with South Birdneck Road following a report of a car accident involving a bicycle at about 11:12 p.m. First responders found Christopher Malik and began tending to his injuries but he died at the scene, according to police.

The driver of the vehicle stayed at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation. There are no pending charges against the driver as of Monday afternoon.

Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806, gavin.stone@virginiamedia.com

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7273634 2024-07-29T14:45:01+00:00 2024-07-29T16:34:32+00:00
Man dies after Norfolk motorcycle crash on Granby Street https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/07/29/motorcyclist-dead-after-crash-in-norfolk/ Mon, 29 Jul 2024 17:53:04 +0000 https://www.pilotonline.com/?p=7273426 Norfolk police said a man died after a motorcycle hit a car early Sunday morning.

In a post on X, Norfolk police said the call for the crash came in just after 5 a.m. at the 7200 block of Granby Street, near the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Emergency services pronounced a man, who has not been identified, dead at the scene.

Police said the motorcyclist’s identity will be released once next of kin has been notified.

The motorcycle was traveling south on Granby when it struck a sedan that was making a turn, according to police. The driver of the sedan was not injured and remained at the scene.

No further information — such as whether alcohol or speed were factors in the crash — has been made available as of Monday evening. The authorities haven’t said if any charges will be filed, but did say the crash is still under investigation.

Reporter Gavin Stone contributed to this report.

Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com

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7273426 2024-07-29T13:53:04+00:00 2024-07-29T17:04:36+00:00
An 11-year-old Virginia boy is charged with making bomb, shooting threats to schools https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/07/28/an-11-year-old-virginia-boy-is-charged-with-making-swatting-calls-to-florida-schools/ Sun, 28 Jul 2024 12:48:28 +0000 https://www.pilotonline.com/?p=7272656&preview=true&preview_id=7272656 BUNNELL, Fla. (AP) — An 11-year-old Virginia boy is charged in Florida with calling in more than 20 bomb or shooting threats to schools and other places, authorities said Thursday.

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said during a news conference that authorities worked hard to find the caller before the school year resumes.

“This kid’s behavior was escalating and becoming more dangerous,” Staly said. “I’m glad we got him before he escalated out of control and hurt someone.”

Swatting is slang for making a prank call to emergency services in an attempt to send a SWAT team or other armed police officers to a particular place.

Flagler County emergency services initially received a bomb threat at Buddy Taylor Middle School on May 14, officials said. Additional threats were made between then and May 22. Flagler County is in central Florida on the state’s Atlantic coast.

Investigators tracked the calls to a home in Henrico County, Virginia, just outside Richmond. Local deputies searched the home this month, and the 11-year-old boy who lived there admitted to placing the Florida swatting calls, as well as a threat made to the Maryland State House, authorities said. Investigators later determined that the boy also made swatting calls in Nebraska, Kansas, Alabama, Tennessee and Alaska.

The boy faces 29 felony counts and 14 misdemeanors, officials said. He’s being held in a Virginia juvenile detention facility while Florida officials arrange for his extradition. Investigators didn’t immediately say whether the boy had a connection to Florida.

A 13-year-old boy was arrested in Florida in May, several days after the initial call, for making a copycat threat to Buddy Taylor Middle School, official said.

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7272656 2024-07-28T08:48:28+00:00 2024-07-28T09:07:24+00:00
Armed robbery suspect shot and killed by police in Newport News https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/07/27/man-shot-by-police-during-armed-bank-robbery-in-newport-news-officials-say/ Sat, 27 Jul 2024 21:27:22 +0000 https://www.pilotonline.com/?p=7272351 A 39-year-old Hampton man was shot and killed by police Saturday following a bank robbery in Newport News, according to a police report.

Officers responded shortly before noon to an armed robbery at Navy Federal Credit Union in the 12000 block of Jefferson Avenue. An employee said a man entered the bank, displayed a firearm and demanded money. Police said the man fled in a vehicle with an undisclosed amount of money.

Officers found the vehicle and conducted a high-risk traffic stop, asking those inside the vehicle to exit.

Police say a man and a woman — the driver and the front seat passenger — exited and were detained. But a third occupant — a man in the back seat — got out and pointed a firearm at officers. Officers then fired, hitting the suspect.

The man was taken to a local hospital but died just after 1 p.m., according to police. He been identified as Stephan Allan Williams.

Police say the officers involved are on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

This is the third killing by Newport News police this year.  In January, an officer shot and killed a man who police say pointed a gun at them while they attempted to perform a welfare check.  In June, an armed woman died after being shot during a standoff with police.

Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com

Katie King, katie.king@virginiamedia.com

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7272351 2024-07-27T17:27:22+00:00 2024-07-28T12:44:31+00:00
Man dead from gunshot wound in Newport News https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/07/27/man-dead-from-gunshot-wound-in-newport-news/ Sat, 27 Jul 2024 21:13:52 +0000 https://www.pilotonline.com/?p=7272331 A man was shot Friday night in Newport News.

At 11:52 p.m., Newport News police responded to a Shotspotter activation in the 500 block of Settlement Lane. They found a man outside with at least one gunshot wound, according to a news release. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

An investigation is ongoing. There is no suspect at this time.

Those with information can call 911 or the non-emergency number at 757- 247- 2500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling the Crime Line at 1 - 888-LOCK-U-UP or online at p3tips.com.

Katie King, katie.king@virginiamedia.com

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7272331 2024-07-27T17:13:52+00:00 2024-07-27T17:22:25+00:00
13-year-old girl shot Friday in Norfolk https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/07/27/13-year-old-girl-shot-friday-in-norfolk/ Sat, 27 Jul 2024 19:55:54 +0000 https://www.pilotonline.com/?p=7271981 A 13-year-old girl was shot Friday night in Norfolk.

Norfolk police received a call at about 8:40 p.m. and responded to the scene at the 1300 block of W. 26th Street. The girl was taken to the hospital to receive treatment for non-life threatening injuries, according to a police spokesperson.

An investigation is ongoing. No further information was available at this time.

Those with tips should call the Norfolk Crime Line.

Katie King, katie.king@virginiamedia.com

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7271981 2024-07-27T15:55:54+00:00 2024-07-28T08:06:44+00:00
Man killed by Virginia Beach police had attacked mother before, court records say https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/07/26/man-killed-by-virginia-beach-police-had-attacked-mother-before-court-records-say/ Fri, 26 Jul 2024 21:26:39 +0000 https://www.pilotonline.com/?p=7271013 A 22-year-old man shot and killed by Virginia Beach police officers responding to a domestic stabbing last weekend had previously attacked his mother with scissors, according to court records.

Virginia Beach police said they were called July 20 to a home in the 4100 block of White Beam Court for a report of a stabbing. When officers arrived, they were confronted by Marques Hasbrouck, who was armed with a 20-inch crowbar and a 27-inch metal rod, according to a release.

After Hasbrouck refused to drop the weapons, police said, they deployed a stun gun, but it wasn’t effective. Hasbrouck was charging at officers when more than one fired at him, police said. Inside the home, officers found his mother, Victoria Hasbrouck, dead, and two relatives seriously injured.

Police had been to the family’s home for an attack in November 2017, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. The document said that Hasbrouck, then 16, and his mother had a dispute over him playing video games and not taking his medications.

Hasbrouck pushed his mother and cursed at her, the affidavit said. When he tried to get some fast food that was on the table, she told him he couldn’t have any because of how he had talked to her, the document said.

“Marques grabbed a pair of scissors and attacked his mother,” the affidavit said. “He stabbed her multiple times in the face, head and body. He stated that he had ‘murderous intent’ and deliberately aimed for her eyes because ‘they are soft.'”

The document went on to say that while Hasbrouck was attacking his mother, he heard voices in his head urging him to continue the assault. It also said that he was being treated for mental illness.

Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com

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7271013 2024-07-26T17:26:39+00:00 2024-07-27T11:39:36+00:00
Chesapeake police investigate after cases dismissed while officer worked at Trump rally https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/07/26/chesapeake-police-officer-trump-rally-investigation/ Fri, 26 Jul 2024 15:01:43 +0000 https://www.pilotonline.com/?p=7269421 It was a Friday morning in Chesapeake traffic court, and the room was full of people who’d been cited for speeding, ignoring traffic signals, having an expired license and driving while intoxicated.

District Judge Erin Evans-Bedois had an announcement at the start of the June 28 session, according to two attorneys who were there.

The judge told the group that the officer involved in all but two of the dozens of cases on the docket had informed the court she wouldn’t be there, the lawyers said. Instead, Officer Shanon Velez said she would be at the campaign rally for former president Donald Trump being held about 6 miles away at the Historic Greenbrier Farms.

As a result, Evans-Bedois dismissed all charges against 11 people, a review of court records conducted by The Virginian-Pilot shows. Most involved lesser offenses such as speeding, but some were for charges that carried a potential jail sentence, such as driving with a suspended license.

The judge postponed the cases of another 13 people — many of whom faced more serious misdemeanor charges such as driving while intoxicated and drug possession — forcing them to have return at a later date. Fifteen other people who’d been cited for traffic offenses by Velez, and given the same court date, had paid their fines in advance.

“I was floored,” said attorney Tom Sheppard, who was among the lawyers in court that day representing one of the people charged. “My client was very happy.”

Sheppard’s client, a Virginia Beach man who’d been accused of driving with a suspended license, speeding, and not wearing a seatbelt, was among those who had all his charges dismissed, Sheppard said. The maximum penalty for the suspended license count is a year in jail.

As for the judge, “she seemed pretty annoyed,” the lawyer said, and hesitated before dismissing some of the cases.

“I think she decided she was not going to punish the defendants that were there as they were supposed to be,” he said.

Attorney John Greenside, also in court that day representing a client, said it wasn’t clear to him whether the officer was attending the rally as a participant or working it.

When The Virginian-Pilot contacted Chesapeake police earlier this month for more information, a spokesman said the department wasn’t aware of what had happened until it was contacted by the newspaper. Spokesman Leo Kosinski said later that the officer was on duty at the rally but had not followed the proper procedure to avoid problems with the court cases, and an investigation was started as a result.

In the meantime, Velez, a 17-year veteran of the department who works as a traffic enforcement officer in the special operations section, remains on regular duty, he said.

Kosinski said Velez wouldn’t be commenting on the case.

As for those who had their cases continued due to the officer’s absence, their next court date is Aug. 9.

Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com

Correction: Due to a reporting error, an earlier version of this story was unclear about the officer’s status at the rally. She was on duty for the event, Chesapeake police have said.

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7269421 2024-07-26T11:01:43+00:00 2024-07-26T18:28:03+00:00