UPDATE 8:56 p.m.: The Roanoke Police Department has identified the man charged with the death of a 40-year-old Roanoke resident in the northwest part of the city Friday morning.
Police say 29-year-old Keandra S. Smith of Roanoke, is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Grover W. Edwards III, who was found shot in the 3800 block of Williamson Road NW on Friday, June 3.
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UPDATE 2:11 p.m.: The Roanoke Police Department shared new information about a Friday morning shooting along Williamson Road NW that left a man dead in the street.
At approximately 11:30 a.m. on Friday, June 3, police say the E-911 Center notified them about a person with a gunshot wound in the 3800 block of Williamson Road NW.
When officers arrived, they found a man with what appeared to be critical injuries, but Roanoke Fire-EMS pronounced him dead at the scene. The man’s identity will not be released until next-of-kin is properly notified, according to the department.
Authorities tell WFXR News they found the suspect near to the scene and detained them shortly after the shooting occurred. That person was brought to the police department to be interviewed by detectives.
As of this writing, officials say no charges have been filed in connection with this homicide investigation, which is still ongoing.
“No additional suspects are being sought and this appears to be an isolated incident between the parties involved. There is no ongoing threat to our community regarding this incident,” the department said in a statement Friday afternoon.
While nearby schools were placed on hold and secure as a precaution, police say those schools were not directly affected or threatened.
Joe Melki runs Big Belly Comics, which is located near the scene of Friday’s deadly incident. He says he did not see the shooting, but was working in his shop when he heard gunfire.
“I heard, I’m pretty sure it was four or five shots, ‘pop pop pop pop pop!'” Melki told WFXR News. “I ran out to the window; I didn’t see anybody with a gun or nothing, but I seen a woman laying down over the body crying, and then I dialed 911.”
Other witnesses, who did not want to be identified, say the shooting may have been the result of some sort of confrontation involving drivers and passengers of a car and an SUV. Two vehicles were found at the shooting scene, and police had them cordoned off.
“It is frightening,” said Nila Stickney, who lives nearby and was walking through the neighborhood with her husband when they came upon the crime scene.
“It’s real frightening,” echoed Nila’s husband, Bill Stickney.
“We live in this neighborhood,” added Nila. “There are so many nice people, and we love it, but then you hear something like this and it makes you wonder.”
If you have any information about Friday morning’s homicide, you are asked to contact the Roanoke Police Department by calling 540-344-8500 or sending a text starting with “RoanokePD” to 274637. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous.
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ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — More than a dozen police cars are currently in northwest Roanoke near the intersection of Williamson Road and Fleming Avenue, where there appears to be a body in the street.
WFXR News has a crew at the scene — which is located close to the Williamson Road Library and Breckinridge Middle School — to learn more about the circumstances surrounding this situation.
Williamson Road NW is currently blocked at the intersection with Fleming Avenue NW, Truman Avenue NW, Huntington Boulevard NW. In addition, Huntington Boulevard NW and Oakland Boulevard NW are closed.
WFXR News’ George Noleff spoke with a witness who works in a nearby business, who says he heard four or five shots, came out to find a woman leaning over a man’s body in the road, and called 911.
According to Roanoke City Public Schools, both Breckinridge Middle School and Preston Park Elementary School were put on a temporary “hold and secure” — but not a lockdown — for about 15 minutes due to nearby police activity unrelated to the schools.
The district says the principal of Breckinridge Middle sent the following message to families on Friday, June 3:
Good afternoon, this is Josh Dowdy, Principal of James Breckinridge Middle School. I’m calling to let you know the school was temporarily placed on a “hold and secure” for approximately 15 minutes due to police activity in the 3800 block of Williamson Road. This was unrelated to the school. A hold and secure means our students remained inside the building while security personnel monitored all doors to ensure the school remained secure. Again, this was unrelated to the school, and we appreciate your support. Thank you.
Preston Park Elementary reportedly sent a similar notification about the incident.
In addition, the Williamson Road Branch Library — which is right by the scene of the deadly incident — will be closed for the rest of Friday and through the weekend, according to Roanoke officials.
This is a developing story.
