PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Hampton Roads was rocked by gun violence over the weekend, with 16 people reported shot in total. Four of those victims died, including a 25-year-old reporter with The Virginian Pilot.
In less than 24 hours alone, 10 On Your Side reported more than a dozen people were shot in four separate cities, with four deaths.
Chesapeake
On Saturday afternoon, a man was shot after an altercation at a shopping center on Providence Road. He was treated on the scene and taken to a local hospital where he later died.
Police have not released the identity of the victim and say that there is no suspect information.
Hampton
On Sunday night, a man was seriously hurt in a shooting in the 600 block of Milford Avenue, near the intersection of Shell Road and LaSalle Avenue. Several homes were also struck with bullets. No suspect information is available so far.
Newport News
On Friday night, dispatch said three men were shot on Ivy Avenue. All three men were taken to local hospitals for treatment and are expected to survive.
Late on Friday evening, police said there was no suspect information.
Norfolk
On Friday evening, police say a man was fatally shot on Myrtle Avenue in Norfolk. 31-year-old Leonco S. Lamb was taken to a local hospital, where he later died.
Several hours later, shots rang out on Granby Street in downtown Norfolk. Five people were shot, including two who later died. Two men and one woman had life-threatening gunshot wounds. Two other men had non life-threatening gunshot wounds.
25-year-old Portsmouth resident Devon M. Harris was pronounced dead at the scene. 25-year-old Sierra M. Jenkins, a reporter at The Virginian Pilot, died later at a local hospital.
Around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, a person was shot on Argonne Avenue. The extent of their injuries is unknown.
Dispatch also tells 10 On Your Side that a walk-in gunshot victim was reported at Sentara Leigh around 12:58 p.m. on Saturday.
On Monday, Norfolk Sheriff Joe Baron released a statement on social media about the violent weekend.
“Following a violent weekend throughout Hampton Roads, our thoughts are with the victims and their families. It’s times like this that we must come together as a community and spread the message that violence is not the answer. As leaders we need to be proactive and find meaningful ways to reduce crime in our streets. We must continue to have open dialogue about the violence plaguing our community and find constructive ways citizens can learn to resolve conflict. Healthy social skills need to be taught at an early age and continue to evolve through adolescence and adulthood. Our communities must come together for the betterment of our youth and their future.”
Norfolk Sheriff Joe Baron
Portsmouth
On Friday night, a man was shot on Portsmouth Boulevard. When officers arrived on the scene, they found him with a serious gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Then on Saturday afternoon, police say a man was seriously hurt after being shot in the 3900 block of Long Point Road, off Twin Pines Road and Hofflers Creek Parkway.
Suffolk
Around 2 a.m. on Saturday, a man walked into Sentara Obici Hospital with a non life-threatening gunshot wound. The victim told police the shooting occurred in the 100 block of West Washington Street. Police say the area was searched and no crime scene could be located.