19-year-old gunned down in Newport News; 3 men sought

NEWPORT NEWS

A 19-year-old man was shot in a hail of gunfire near the Denbigh area this afternoon that sparked multiple calls to police.

"It does not appear to be life-threatening at this time," police spokesman Lou Thurston said of the man's wounds, but he was struck by several bullets.

The man, whose name was not immediately released, was taken to an area hospital and was listed in stable condition just after 4 p.m.

Thurston said police began receiving calls about 1:55 p.m. reporting that there was a man suffering from gunshot wounds on the ground in an apartment complex parking lot in the 14500 block of Old Courthouse Way, at Warwick Boulevard.

Within moments, "other calls began to come in indicating that there had been a shooting or someone shooting at someone or individuals shooting at each other" in a nearby field off Manor Road and Warwick Boulevard near the Woodview Apartments.

Police responded and detained three people at the scene who were questioned this afternoon, Thurston said, but they were later released and none was charged. All of them were juveniles.

Police are seeking three men connected to the incident, but there was no description released for them.

Thurston said investigators determined that the gunshot victim was gunned down in the area of the field and then "ran back to the apartment complex and across through to the Old Courthouse Way area where he collapsed."

Steve Stone, (757) 446-2319/2309, steve.stone@pilotonline.com