The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
Two fatal shootings, including a daylight assault at a shopping center Monday, pushed the number of homicides in Norfolk to 50 - well over last year's total of 28, according to police.
The number of homicides will climb higher if any of a few other deaths from 2007 that remain under investigation are found to be homicides, said Officer Chris Amos, a police spokesman.
Still, he said it remained to be seen how violent crime trends overall fared in 2007, and he noted that the year's homicide count remained fewer than 2005's tally of 61.
Around noon Monday, a man whose name has not been released was gunned down outside the GameStop store in the Southern Shopping Center in the 7500 block of Tidewater Drive.
Brett Staples, manager of the Food Lion nearby, rushed outside with another employee after the shots. They saw a man lying on the ground; a woman screamed for somebody to call 911.
Police were on the scene quickly, Staples said, and paramedics arrived several minutes later.
Police taped off an area in the parking lot. Detectives moved through the onlookers, asking if anyone had seen what happened.
The previous night, a man was fatally wounded around 10:30 p.m. when he was shot through his apartment door in the 5600 block of Brickell Road, off Military Highway in Norfolk, according to a police report.
The man, identified as Tyran D. McKoy, initially was able to speak with an investigator and his wounds did not appear life-threatening.
He told police that the shooter was trying to push open his door for an unknown reason. He said he shoved the door closed and was shot through the door, according to the police report.
He was hospitalized and died at 7:15 a.m. Monday, police said.
No arrests were reported in either case.
Anyone with information can call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (562-5887).
Matthew Roy, (757) 446-2540, matthew.roy@pilotonline.com
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citizen X thanks for your input
Bottom line is, the cops are underpaid and not supported by administration. I will be happy if they just dont "dumb down" the entry tests for the folks that never bothered to learn math in school...soon we'll be down to drawing pictures for entry exams. For the record, my swipe was aimed at administrators more interested in smoke screens, spin and damage control, and not street level officers. But Norfolk crime is 100% out of control, and no shimmy-shammy or deflection about street officer's competence changes that. Your observation about a Norfolk cop taking bullets at the credit union just proves my point; unless Norfolk gets it's act together, things will only spiral downward. As for Norfolk PD's crime solving record, if they are that good, then God help the rest of the state. At least they didnt let a transported prisoner escape; Sheriff McCabe can take the heat for that blunder.
Red, Black, and Green
Norfolk just broke ground on a Light Rail Transit sytem. The city has two new construction projects to make up for the Granby Towers that is being delayed. Condos are being built all over the city. The council and many of their friends and political supporters are making the Green. Norfolk city council can careless about the Red blood of young Black men who are falling on city streets. The city of Norfolk uses tax payers dollars to invest in brick and mortar, but not the people. Ony God and voters can help the city of Norfolk.
Hey Alexb lay off the
Hey Alexb lay off the police. The 2nd Patrol Division hasn't been across the street for over two years, and the Norfolk homicide detectives are not "baffled" they solve more murders both in sheer numbers and in percentages than any other department in the state. If your wife has worked there for very long she will no boubt recall the last time a Norfolk officer responded to the credit union and took nine bullets saving the employees from an armed robber. Granted, the crime problem in Norfolk is out of control but the problem is more with a lenient and disorganized court system, a city council that encourages crime and high end administrators who misappropriates police resources than with street level officers. But the police department is understaffed and they are hiring so if you wanna show them how its done nows your chance.
"Norfolk. Life Celebrated Daily!"
And murder occurring nightly. Why is the Norfolk Police Department remaining woefully undermanned?
"Norfolk Police Baffled" "Motive Not Known"... etc
My wife was at the credit union in the same parking lot when this happened. The article says police were on the scene quickly-Duh!!! They ought to be, the Norfolk 2cd Patrol precinct is across the street from the murder site. As with most of our recent crimes in Norfolk,the police remain baffled, and the silence from our city council on this is deafening. I grew up in Norfolk, but it is not the city it used to be, and certainly no place to raise a family, unless it undergoes a radical change in crime suppression effectiveness.
Solving problems with guns...
50 murders, but countless other shootings that didn't result in death, and even more reports of shots fired within the city that didn't result in injury. When a report of shots fired comes into the police station, a citizen can't give an exact location unless they are an eyewitness. The city should arm the police with 2008 technology. Utilize a gunfire detection system to locate where people are firing off guns "ma'am, we have a report of gunfire from your back porch. We would like to come in an investigate for your safety" When shots are fired, let the public know that the police will be responding immediately to your residence. Repeat reports from shots fired at a residence means increased police presence at that address. This may help get illegal guns off the streets.
Taking Credit
Do you think the police dept. will take the credit for this like they do when the crime rate goes down?
DON'T LET IT HAPPEN
Law-abiding citizens: Never let the government take away your guns. If all were armed, the thugs would think twice before bringing their own weapon to the party. Restricting firearms doesn't work; arming yourself does...