PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — The person whose body was pulled from a Churchland dumpster last week had also been shot, court documents show. Portsmouth Police said they were investigating the death as a homicide as 10 On Your Side learned more details Monday about the investigation.
At this point, it’s unclear whether the victim was a man or woman, but a detective’s affidavit indicates the person had been shot in the head, back, thigh and foot. Police intend to file second-degree murder charges.
Venus Swain said that what happened in her neighborhood was disturbing in “the way that their life ended and also how their body was just simply disposed of in the garbage.”
The dumpster is adjacent to the Bethel Worship Center Church International on Pepperwood Court.
“It’s extremely scary that this has occurred near my home,” Swain said. “It’s very sad that that happened to another human being.”
Police are looking at surveillance video for two people of interest. The men walk from the right side of the image to the left, with the second carrying a bag.
Police say they found a spent cartridge casing near the dumpster, along with a blood stain.
“It’s very shocking to have something so violent and so destructive to occur,” Swain said.
If you recognize the men in the video, you’re asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.