Woman killed in Cape Charles shooting, suspect charged with murder

CAPE CHARLES, Va. (WAVY) — A woman is dead after a shooting in Cape Charles on Saturday, Feb. 24.

Just after 5 p.m., Cape Charles police officers responded to a report of shots fired on the 500 block of Tazewell Avenue.

Upon arrival, officers located one victim, and identified a suspect, who was immediately taken into custody.

The victim of the shooting has been identified as Jane McKinley, 73. The victim was declared deceased by EMS.

The suspect was identified as 25-year-old Anthony Mercado. He has been charged with reckless handling of a firearm, second-degree murder and malicious discharge of a firearm in a dwelling. According to several people WAVY spoke with in town Monday, Mercado is McKinley’s grandson and had been living in the home with her for at least a few months. We reached out to Cape Charles Police Chief Jim Pruitt for confirmation but he did not immediately respond.

McKinley was known and loved by many as an active member in civic life.

Jim Holloway and his wife Tammy own the Bay Haven Inn, a few blocks from McKinley’s home. They say her death will be a huge loss for Cape Charles.

“We are just devastated by the news of our dear friend Jane McKinley. She was just a wonderful person,” Jim said.

McKinley would often be seen walking her standard poodle Mickey, on her way to help out at the Christian School or organizing events at a park around the corner. McKinley was a master gardener and was active in the Cape Charles Youth Garden, and was about to become a board member for the historical preservation society Cape Charles Main Street.

“Jean was just bigger than life,” Town Manager John Hozey said. “She was beyond a model citizen. She was a type of person that just could never say no. Anything that was needed, anybody that ever asked, she was there to help.”

McKinley’s impact reached some on a more personal level. Her mail carrier Giama Wiggins remembers how she helped him emerge from a time of personal crisis.

“She was a very energetic person, very kind and very helpful, and she is a big part of my life and my journey to sobriety,” he said.

Residents say this is the first murder in town in as long as they can remember.

“We’ve been living here since 2011, and as far as I know we’ve never had a murder here in our little town,’ Jim Holloway said.

“It’s just beyond tragic,” Hozey added. “We we take our little community for granted sometimes, but even even in wonderful places like this, tragedy can happen.”