Growing violence: Roanoke shooting cases in 2022

ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — The Roanoke Police Department is investigating a number of crimes involving gun violence throughout the city, including shootings and homicides.

The map below shows where these shootings have taken place in the city throughout the year.

Police responded to at least five reports of shootings — as well as two homicides — across Roanoke during the month of January.

For the month of February, there were five shootings reported, including two homicides, in the Star City. Two of those shootings took place in northwest Roanoke while the other three were in southwest Roanoke.

In March, there were eight shootings — including one homicide — in Roanoke. Six of them were reported in the northwest part of the city while two happened in the northeast section.

The Star City only saw two shootings, both of which took place in the northwestern part of Roanoke, for the month of April.

As for May, police found three shooting victims who may be connected to an early morning shooting in northwest Roanoke on May 1, followed by a homicide and a double shooting in the same part of the city, as well as a double shooting in southeast Roanoke and a homicide in northeast Roanoke.

On June 3, the Star City saw two shootings — one of which was deadly — within hours of each other in western Roanoke. After that, one more homicide and six more shootings took place between June 9 and June 30, with five of those incidents happening in northwest Roanoke while the other two were in the eastern part of the city.

In the month of July, police have already reported two early morning shootings in western Roanoke in the first half of the month, each of which left one man injured. Then, during the second half of July, authorities responded to two deadly shootings, one in the southeast area and the other in the northwest area.

As of Aug. 30, police have reported at least five shootings in the Star City for the month of August, including an officer-involved shooting in downtown Roanoke.

January Shooting Cases

Jan. 3 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to the 500 block of Orange Avenue NE at approximately 3:15 p.m. When police arrived they found one man with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Timothy P. Meadows, 44, of Roanoke, was arrested the next day for malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, according to police.
Jan. 7 shooting: Roanoke Police were called out at approximately 1:40 a.m. to the 3800 block of Williamson Road NW. When police arrived, they found a man with a critical gunshot wound.
Jeffrey E. White was arrested for malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to police.
Jan. 10 homicide: Roanoke Police responded to the 3500 block of Yellow Mountain Road SE at approximately 1:30 a.m. for a report of a suspicious call with injuries. When they arrived, they found an injured and unresponsive woman — identified as 23-year-old Brooks M. Mullen of Roanoke — lying outside the home, but she was later pronounced dead.
On May 3, police say Lavon M. Belcher, 30, of Roanoke was taken into custody for first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Jan. 22 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to the 700 block of Fairfax Avenue NW at approximately 6:40 p.m. When police arrived, they were told that a man arrived at the hospital in a personal vehicle with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. No arrests have been made.
Jan. 23 homicide and shootings: Police responded to multiple shootings in northwest Roanoke within two hours on Jan. 23.
First, Roanoke Police were called out at approximately 7:15 p.m. to the 500 block of 8th Street NW. When they arrived, they found a man — identified as 33-year-old Tyiray L. Anderson of Roanoke — with critical injuries, but he was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say that shots were fired at officers on the scene from a vehicle that was parked about a block away, but no one was hurt.
Roanoke Police also responded to the 2900 block of Hershberger Road NW at approximately 9 p.m. When police arrived, they found one woman with a non-life-threatening injury after a man approached her while she was outside of the business, shot at her, stole her personal items, and left the scene.
According to police, 21-year-old Eric D. Swain Jr. of Roanoke — who is believed to be involved in Jan. 23 shootings in Roanoke, as well as an armed robbery in Henry County — was arrested in North Carolina for an unrelated incident in the Greensboro area that same night. In addition to the charges he faces for second-degree murder, robbery, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in Virginia, Swain has also been accused of tasing a sergeant at a North Carolina jail.
Jan. 25 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to the 2300 block of Highland Farm Road NW at approximately 6 a.m. When they arrived, they found a man with a serious gunshot wound.
No arrests have been made.

February Shooting Cases

Feb. 1 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to the 900 block of Hanover Avenue NW at approximately 1:40 p.m. When they arrived, they found a man with gunshot wounds. No arrests have been made.
Feb. 6 homicide and shooting: Roanoke Police responded to two separate shootings in western Roanoke, one of which was deadly.
The first one was reported at approximately 1:50 a.m. in the 3300 block of Ferncliff Avenue NW. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man with critical gunshot wounds. The man — identified as 26-year-old William A. Dungee Jr. of Roanoke — was pronounced dead at the scene. No arrests have been made.
The second shooting was reported at approximately 3:15 a.m. in the 600 block of Salem Avenue SW. When police arrived, they didn’t find any victims or suspects in the area. A short time later, though, a man arrived at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound related to the Salem Avenue shooting. No arrests have been made.
Feb. 8 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to call in the 500 block of Mountain Avenue SW at approximately 9:40 p.m. When they arrived, they found two men with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds after two other people came to the home and got in a fight with the men. However, the suspects were not at the scene when officers got there.
On Feb. 11, police say 18-year-old Haley A. Sarks and 20-year-old Clayton A. Pellitteri, both from Roanoke, came to the department and were taken into custody without incident for multiple charges related to the shooting.
Feb. 12 homicide: Roanoke Police responded to the 1200 block of Jefferson Street SW at approximately 11:15 p.m. When officers arrived, they found a man inside a home with a critical gunshot wound. He was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Police arrested 21-year-old Bryson W. Berger of Roanoke, on Feb. 13 for second-degree murder in connection with the deadly shooting.
Then, on May 5, police announced that Jaytwon T. Shepherd, 20, of Roanoke, had been taken into custody for first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a murder as part of this homicide investigation.

March Shooting Cases

March 3 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to the 700 block of Hunt Avenue NW at approximately 1:15 a.m. When they arrived, they found a man with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. He was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Police have not made any arrests in this investigation.
March 5 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to the 600 block of Liberty Road NW just before 8 p.m. When they arrived, they found a man with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. He was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. No arrests have been made.
March 8 homicide: Roanoke Police responded to the 3800 block of Panorama Avenue NW after 4:45 p.m. When they arrived, they found a man — identified as 31-year-old Jonathan Robert Wooddall-Gainey of Roanoke — with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was taken to Carilion Memorial Hospital, where he later died. No arrests have been made.
March 9 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to the 2400 block of Williamson Road NE around 5:25 p.m. When they arrived, they found a man with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. He was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. No arrests have been made.
March 11 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to the 3900 block of Greenlawn Avenue NW around 7 a.m. When they arrived, they found two men with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. No arrests have been made.
March 21 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to the 800 block of Hunt Avenue NW at approximately 9:30 p.m. When they arrived, they found a man and a woman with non-life-threatening injuries. They were taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. No arrests have been made.
March 22 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to the 2400 block of Delta Drive NW around 6 p.m. When they arrived, they did not find anyone injured, but they did find a Roanoke City Schools bus that had been hit by a bullet. No arrests have been made.
March 29 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to the 600 block of Orange Avenue NE at approximately 10:30 p.m. When they arrived, they found a man with non-life threatening injuries. He was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. No arrests have been made.

April Shooting Cases

April 4 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital at approximately 4:45 p.m. after they were notified by a staff member of a man with gunshot wounds. After an investigation, police determined it took place at a home in the 1000 block of Fairfax Avenue NW. No arrests have been made.
April 23 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to the 900 block of Crescent Street NW at approximately 11 p.m. When they arrived, they found a man with non-life-threatening injuries inside a vehicle. He was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. No arrests have been made.

May Shooting Cases:

May 1 shooting(s): Roanoke Police responded to the 600 block of Westside Boulevard NW at approximately 3:15 a.m. about a person who had been shot. When they arrived, they found a man with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, who was brought to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
While officers were at the scene, they were notified that another man, who suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, arrived at LewisGale Hospital. The investigation indicates this person was also injured along Westside Boulevard.
Then, at approximately 4:15 a.m., police say word came in about a shooting victim in the 1300 block of Melrose Avenue NW. Officers found a man with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound inside a vehicle in the area. That man was also taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Officials tell WFXR News that they believe there is a connection between the victim found on Melrose Avenue and the shooting on Westside Boulevard. No arrests have been made.
May 4 homicide: Roanoke Police responded to the 1200 block of Hanover Avenue NW at approximately 1:45 p.m. and found a man — identified as 30-year-old Ulysses K. Williams of Roanoke — lying in the street with a critical gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No arrests have been made.
May 9 shooting: Roanoke Police were patrolling the area near Salem Turnpike NW and 24th Street NW when they heard shots fired from Delta Drive NW at approximately 9:30 a.m. Officers found two men outside a home in the 2400 block of Delta Drive NW with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. They were brought to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Mann D. Murray, 22, of Roanoke, was arrested later that day and charged with malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony after he was found inside the suspect vehicle in the 1100 block of Pilot Street NW.
May 15 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to a report of a double shooting the 1500 block of Queen Ann Drive SE around 4 p.m. and found a man with serious injuries inside a home in the area, as well as another man with a non-life-threatening injury. The first man was brought to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital while the second man was treated at the scene.
Two men — Joseph R. Austin III, 37, of Roanoke, and Dashaun L. Williams, 23, of Windsor, N.C. — have been arrested and charged in connection with this incident.
May 29 homicide: Roanoke Police responded to a report of an unresponsive person near the intersection of 13th Street NE and Baldwin Avenue NE at approximately 2 p.m. Officers found a man — identified as 32-year-old Samuel E. Dickerson Jr. of Roanoke — lying partially in the roadway with critical gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No arrests have been made.

June Shooting Cases:

June 3 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to a report of a person with a gunshot wound in the 2800 block of Colonial Avenue SW at approximately 5:45 a.m. and found a man in the parking lot with a non-life-threatening injury. He was brought to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. No arrests have been made.
June 3 homicide: Roanoke Police responded to the 3800 block of Williamson Road NW for a report of a person with a gunshot wound around 11:30 a.m. When officers arrived, they found a man — identified as 40-year-old Grover W. Edwards of Roanoke — with what appeared to be critical injuries, but first responders pronounced him dead at the scene.
Police charged 29-year-old Keandra S. Smith of Roanoke with second-degree murder in connection with the deadly shooting.
June 9 homicide: Roanoke Police responded to the 700 block of Hunt Avenue NW around midnight for a report of a person with a gunshot wound. When officers arrived, they found a man — identified as 23-year-old Chris L. Graves of Roanoke — in the parking lot. He was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders. No arrests have been made.
June 9 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to a reported shooting around 7:10 p.m. in the 2800 block of Bluestone Avenue NE. While heading to the scene, officers learned that a man with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound was heading to the hospital. While police did not find other victims at the scene, they did notice property damage from a shooting and found out that a vehicle left the area shortly after the shooting. This led to a traffic stop and the discovery of another man with a serious but non-life-threatening gunshot wound. He was also brought to Roanoke Memorial for treatment. No arrests have been made.
June 18 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to the 900 block of Kellogg Avenue NW at approximately 11 p.m. for shots fired. When officers arrived, they found evidence of a shooting, but later discovered a man had arrived at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. No arrests have been made, but authorities say the man knew the other people involved in the shooting.
June 23 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to a report of a person who had been shot at the intersection of Dupree Street NW and Blaney Avenue NW around 5:30 p.m. When officers arrived, they found a man with a serious gunshot wound, so first responder brought him to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. No arrests have been made.
June 24 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to the 3700 block of Williamson Road NW at approximately 10:20 p.m. for a report of a shooting. While officers found evidence of a shooting at the scene, they later discovered that a man arrived at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, which are connected to the Williamson Road incident. No arrests have been made.
June 26 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to a report about a person who had been shot in the 100 block of Campbell Avenue SE at approximately 12:05 a.m. When officers arrived, they found a man in a parking lot with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. He was brought to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. No arrests have been made.
June 30 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to the 4500 block of Melrose Avenue NW at approximately 10:30 p.m. and found a man with a serious gunshot wound inside a business. He was brought to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment.
During the investigation, officers determined the man had been involved in an argument with 51-year-old Sterling Whitfield Sr. of Roanoke, which escalated into a shooting. Following a vehicle chase, a crash, and a foot pursuit, police arrested Whitfield for multiple charges.

July Shooting Cases:

July 9 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to a reported shooting in the 800 block of Queen Avenue NW at approximately 2:45 a.m. When officers arrived, they found a man with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, so he was brought to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Quintiy L. Steelman, 20, of Roanoke, was arrested for malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in connection with the shooting, which was related to a disorder at the same address that officers responded to less than an hour earlier.
July 12 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to a shooting in the 2100 block of Crystal Spring Avenue SW at approximately 2:25 a.m. and learned that the victim had already left for the hospital. When officers arrived at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, they found a man with non-life-threatening injuries.
Authorities say the suspect in the incident arrived at the police department to speak with the detectives about the shooting, which started as an argument before it escalated. No charges have been filed in connection with this ongoing investigation.
July 22 homicide: Roanoke Police say officers responded to a “suspicious situation” in Belmont Park at approximately 4:21 a.m. When they arrived, they found 37-year-old Leeann Amber Haun of Roanoke, dead at the scene from a gunshot wound.
On July 29, authorities announced they arrested 26-year-old Richard Quarles and charged him with second-degree murder in connection with Haun’s death.
July 30 homicide: Roanoke Police responded to a report of a person with a gunshot wound in the 800 block of Hershberger Road NW shortly before 1:45 p.m. When officers arrived, they found a man — 43-year-old John Q. Harris of North Carolina — who was pronounced dead at the scene. Two dogs had also been shot, one of whom died at the scene while the other died at an emergency veterinary facility.
Authorities announced on Aug. 1 that the man’s brother, 40-year-old Lloyd A. Harris of Roanoke, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

August Shooting Cases:

Aug. 10 shooting: Roanoke Police responded to a report of a person who had been shot in the 800 block of Marshall Avenue SW just after 7:15 p.m. When officers arrived, they found a man lying in the front yard with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. He was brought to the hospital, but no arrests have been made.
Aug. 11/Aug. 12 officer-involved shooting and standoff: Virginia State Police say Roanoke Police responded to a shots fired call in the 100 block of Elm Avenue SW shortly after 11 p.m. on Aug. 11. When officers arrived, a second round of gunshots were reportedly fired inside the apartment, so police fired back, leading to a four-hour standoff and the evacuation of the surrounding apartments in the building.
Nobody was injured by the gunfire, but around 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 12, authorities say 31-year-old Damoan S. Townes of Roanoke, came out of the apartment and was charged with two counts of discharging a firearm within a building with malicious intent.
Aug. 20 homicide: Roanoke Police was notified at approximately 5:30 a.m. about a man with gunshot wounds who arrived at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in a personal vehicle, but died while being treated. Authorities identified the man as 25-year-old Mahdi H. Holland of Roanoke, but have yet to release any information about where the shooting took place. No arrests have been made at this time.
Aug. 21 shooting: Roanoke Police say officers were on patrol along Campbell Avenue SW around 2 a.m. when they heard several shots fired nearby, leading them to discover evidence of a fight that led to a shooting in a parking garage in the 30 block of Salem Avenue SW. Shortly afterward, authorities were notified about a man who had arrived at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. No arrests have been made at this time.
Aug. 28 homicide: Roanoke Police responded to the 1900 block of 10th Street NW at approximately 2:45 a.m. for a report of a shooting and found a man with critical injuries in a parking lot. That man — identified as 25-year-old Octavius Z. Cooke of Rocky Mount — later died from his injuries.
During this call, authorities say they were notified about a man who arrived at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. This man’s identity has not been released, but police determined both men were involved in an incident that took place outside of a business in the 1900 block of 10th Street NW. No arrests have been made at this time.

This is a developing story.