Virginia Beach Shooting Leaves 3 Dead, 5 Injured
Virginia Beach Shooting Leaves 3 Dead, 5 Injured...
A shooting in Virginia Beach late Friday night left three people dead and five others injured, marking the city's deadliest gun violence incident in nearly five years. The attack occurred around 11:30 p.m. near the Oceanfront entertainment district, a popular tourist area now under heightened police presence.
Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate confirmed the suspect fled the scene and remains at large as of Saturday morning. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots near 17th Street and Pacific Avenue, where officers found victims with gunshot wounds in the street and nearby businesses.
The victims include two men and one woman killed in the attack, while the injured range in age from 20 to 45. Three remain in critical condition at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. Police have not released a motive but believe the shooting stemmed from a dispute between multiple individuals.
This incident marks Virginia Beach's deadliest shooting since the 2019 municipal center attack that left 12 dead. The city's Oceanfront district saw another fatal shooting last summer that killed two and wounded eight during Memorial Day weekend.
Mayor Bobby Dyer called the violence "heartbreaking" in a Saturday morning statement, pledging additional police resources. The shooting has reignited debates about public safety in the coastal city that attracts millions of visitors annually.
Virginia Beach police urge anyone with information to contact their tip line at 757-385-3111. The department plans to hold a press conference later Saturday as the manhunt continues.
The tragedy comes as gun violence surges across Virginia, with firearm deaths increasing 28% since 2019 according to state health data. National attention has turned to Virginia Beach as the latest community grappling with mass casualty shootings.
