NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — A Hampton man has been arrested in connection to a shooting in Newport News that left one woman dead.
Police said in a news release responded to reports of a shooting on Jefferson Avenue, near the Mercury Boulevard intersection, just before 5 p.m. Thursday. A woman was found in the parking lot with a gunshot wound, and was pronounced dead on scene.
VIDEO: Chief addresses fatal shooting in Newport News
Chief Steve Drew said in a news conference Thursday a 41-year-old Hampton man was arrested late Thursday night at a Walmart in Suffolk. The man, Maya Pasquinel Frye, has been charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
MORE COVERAGE: Maya Frye allegedly threw hammer at Frazier, court documents show
Drew said several citizens came forward with information that helped authorities identify Frye.
The woman killed in the shooting has been identified as 26-year-old Jocelyn Miera Frazier. She and Frye were reported to be an ex-boyfriend and girlfriend, police said in a news release.
A big crowd gathered outside a small shopping plaza off Jefferson Avenue on Thursday evening. 10 On Your Side spoke with several witnesses off camera who said the victim was shot at point blank range.
Many people inside the businesses saw or heard the moments leading up to the shooting.
Witnesses said they heard a woman yelling for help and screaming “stop.” When they looked outside, witnesses said they saw a man and a woman fighting.
One woman dead after shooting in Newport News off Jefferson ave. Call came in at 4:59 pm, Chief Drew says shooting happened in parking lot and suspect and victim knew each other. Several witnesses around when shots fired. Suspect fled in car. @WAVY_News pic.twitter.com/NNXi7Z1xRE— Geena Arevalo (@GeenaA_WAVY) April 4, 2019
The witnesses said the man had a gun and shot the woman. Employees at some of the businesses said the man walked away from the victim, came back and fired more shots, and then fled in a black car.
Drew said Friday, “The detectives and officers in this Department did an amazing job in this investigation. Along with their hard work, the cooperation of citizens, local business owners and the Hampton and Suffolk Police Departments, an arrest was made quickly, and for that we are very grateful.”
Business owners, officers, friends and family of Frazier joined the police chief Friday morning for a prayer circle.
Drew wanted the community know that his officers are concerned about their community.
“For the citizens, I want the citizens to know the department cares about its citizens that we’re not going to tolerate that type of violence in this city,” he said.
He believes that,without a doubt, the help of the witnesses allowed officers to arrest Frye so quickly at a Walmart in Suffolk.
He believes it’s because the department is being more transparent and engaging in the community.
“Several people told us what are you going to do? What are you doing? We made promises and they were carried out at 11:45 last night,” Drew said about Frye’s arrest.
Drew called the shooting a senseless act that never should’ve happened, and believes the community can help stop the tragedy from happening again.
“I need citizens and people to come together to put a stop to domestic violence if they see it and hear it, help put a stop to it,” he said.
Friends of Frazier say she and Frye had a child together and she was planning to move out of the area soon.
WAVY’s Geena Arevalo, Taylor O’Bier, Brian Reese and Kevin Green contributed to this story.
