Police: Marlwood Way homicide victim called for help before he died

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – The victim in what Virginia Beach Police are classifying as a homicide called 911 to say he had been shot before dying at a local hospital.

Police said Detral Dozier, 21, called Emergency Communications and Citizen Services around 1:30 a.m. March 19 to say that he had been shot. Dozier was found in the 4700 block of Marlwood Way with a gunshot wound, and was taken to a local hospital, where he later died.

While police continue to investigate the incident, neighbors said this is not the first time they’ve heard shooting in their neighborhood.

Neighbors react to shooting

Marsha Jones lives down the street from where the shooting happened. She said she had no idea what happened until police knocked on her door.

“You know when the police and all came for this particular, I didn’t know anything about it,” Jones said.

She said Virginia Beach police officers came by to see if her doorbell camera caught anything that could help give them a lead in the case.

“We noticed you had a Ring camera. Did you capture anything? It’s like, ‘No,'” Jones said.

She said this isn’t the first time gun violence has hit the Kempsville Lake community.

“The gun violence is absolutely ridiculous,” Jones said.

She said shooting like this makes her and other neighbors concerned about going outside.

“It’s almost like you are a prisoner in your own home,” Jones said. “You are afraid. You hear sirens going off in here. We don’t know what is going on.”

Those feelings are why Jones said the neighborhood watch was disbanded.

She wants it back.

Jones also said the community needs to join together to put a stop to the violence.

“It would be nice if our community would have a sit-down with all the residents in the area,” Jones said. “What is your perspective? What would be your suggestions to make this neighborhood safer?”

Jones said she is willing to step up and lead a community forum.