NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – Following an autopsy, Norfolk Police were informed the undetermined death of an 84-year-old Norfolk woman was in fact a homicide, and they quickly arrested the victim’s grandson.

Officers responded to 2700 block of Dominion Avenue around 11:45 a.m. on June 13 for the report of a woman who was unresponsive after a reported fall. First responders discovered Liu-Chih Howell suffering from life-threatening injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation led detectives to her grandson, 34-year-old David Macronald. He’s charged with second-degree murder and is being held at the Norfolk City Jail without bond.

JT Jonathan, who lives a few houses down, told 10 On Your Side he was in disbelief when he heard what happened to his neighbor of 11 years.

“Oh my gosh, it’s like what did she do? She was the nicest person,” Jonathan said.

He often talked with Howell while she walked her dog or worked on her yard.

“I was coming home from the store and the fire truck and ambulance were at her house and they were taking a stretcher in,” Jonathan said. “I didn’t stick around to see. I thought she had a heart attack or something.”

He told us he had a weird feeling about Howell’s 34-year-old grandson, David Macronald, after a previous interaction in which Macronald came off as aggressive.

“He was bragging about his dog, and the name he gave his dog and how dangerous his dog was and was laughing,” Jonathan said. “He was very aggressive.”

Jonathan said Macronald assaulted Howell in 2016. He remembers police being called to the house. 10 On Your Side found the assault charge, in addition to two others against family members, which led to Macronald spending time in jail.

Police said Macronald is facing additional charges unrelated to the murder of his grandmother.

The manner of death in this case has not been released.