Elderly Norfolk couple assaulted inside home in Bay View

NORFOLK

On Tuesday afternoon, Bay View was mostly quiet, with only the sound of lawn mowers, wind chimes and an occasional car passing.

But the sight of TV news trucks - antennas high in the air - and an alert sent to neighbors indicated something was wrong on the warm, breezy afternoon.

A husband and wife, each in their 90s, were in the hospital Tuesday after being assaulted in their home in the 1400 block of Sunset Drive.

They were found by a relative checking on them at about 5:15 that morning, said Chris Amos, Norfolk police spokesman. Both were taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with injuries that were considered life-threatening.

A window in the back of the home was found open, but police were not sure that's how the assailants got inside, Amos said. Investigators also didn't say whether anything was taken from the home.

The violent incident was uncharacteristic for the neighborhood, which Amos described as quiet, but it was the second home invasion reported there in two days.

On Monday afternoon, a woman who lives in the 8400 block of Cape View Ave. was physically assaulted in her home at about 4:15 p.m. Amos said she was taken to the hospital, but her injuries were not considered life-threatening.

Amos said it was unclear whether the two incidents were related. They did occur within walking distance of each other. A police database indicated other crimes in the neighborhood were previously limited to larceny, vandalism and burglary.

The Bayview Civic League has a safety program that includes Neighborhood Watch and an alert system for civic league officials to send e-mails to residents about crimes such as this week's attacks, said Dranan Sparks, the league president. 

"The biggest thing we’re doing is getting to our community and getting to our neighbors and keeping them apprised of the situation," Sparks said.

He said he has been in contact with police who had officers in the community talking with residents and handing out crime prevention information on Tuesday. 

"We’re telling people to be aware, be alert and to keep their eyes and ears open," Sparks said, adding that people should watch our for their neighbors and call 911 if they see anything suspicious. 

"Our thoughts and our prayers go out to the victims and their families," Sparks said. "It’s obviously very disturbing when something like this happens and you stop to realize there are people in our society who prey on those less fortunate, the elderly and the vulnerable."  

Lauren King, (757) 446-2309, lauren.king@pilotonline.com

Cindy Clayton, (757) 446-2377, cindy.clayton@pilotonline.com