SMITHFIELD, Va. (WAVY) – Police have released the names of the two people found dead early Tuesday morning at the Jersey Park Apartment in Smithfield.
Smithfield Police confirm they were called to Wrenn Road around 1:30 a.m. Officers arrived to find shell casings at the scene.
On July 20, police confirmed A’shoneya Williams and Kyonne Edwards were the victims in the shooting. Detectives determined they were both shot and are treating this as a double homicide.
Family members of Williams confirmed to 10 On Your Side she was 21 years old. They are hopeful the cameras in the area captured evidence in the case.
“When I woke up this morning, I was shocked. I came outside and there were a lot of people out here. It’s been taped off. It’s a crime scene,” said Martha Cypress.
Cypress said her air conditioning is out in her apartment. Therefore, she must sit outside in the hot temperatures, as police process the scene.
Smithfield Vice Mayor Valerie Butler held a community meeting to address the ongoing concerns last week.
“I feel lost because I feel like my hands are tied and I don’t know what can be done,” said Butler. “I have a compassion for people, and I see what’s happening in that community, and I’m firm believer that no matter your socioeconomic status is, what you call home has to be a peaceful environment. From what I see, from the outside, this community is not peaceful.”
Crime, management, lack of maintenance and living conditions are big issues for residents off West Main Street.
Butler, who is also the former Isle of Wight County NAACP president, says the two young adults are “gone too soon.”
“I can’t imagine how the grieving families feel,” Butler said.
Butler plans to contact state and national leaders to address ongoing issues at the complex.
“My next goal is to find out who is responsible,” Butler said. “Is it at the Richmond level or Washington D.C. level? I think that is where the communication needs to be. There needs to be a total rehab out here. I don’t know how long that it going to take but it does need to be cleaned up.”
Virginia State Police are assisting with this investigation.
“If you’ve witnessed something, then you have to let somebody know,” Butler said. “That’s the only way to make a change. One way that change can be met is if the residents take charge and take back their own community. “
If you have any information about this case, please contact the Smithfield Police Department using the Crime Line, at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.