On Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at 2:50 p.m., Police responded to the neighborhood park in the Level Green section of Virginia Beach for shots fired in the park. When the police units arrived, they learned all the parties involved had left according to several witnesses who explained what had taken place moments before.
According to investigators, 8 or 9 teenagers believed to members of a local gang were sitting around the picnic table near the basketball court when a Mercedes SUV pulled into the parking lot. The passenger, a 17 year-old rival gang member approached the group and exchanged words. As he was walking back toward his vehicle shots were fired from the group toward him and the SUV. The driver, a twenty year-old female who was sitting in the vehicle, was grazed in the back of her neck by a passing bullet. Several rounds stuck the rear of the SUV.
When the shots rang out several juveniles playing basketball in the park started running away down Level Green Blvd. The passenger of the SUV jumped out of the vehicle and started beating up one of the juveniles with a dog leash. Citizens approached the attacker and yelled at him to stop. He then ran back to the SUV, got in the drivers side and then drove the injured female to a local hospital where she was treated and released for a minor graze.
The intensive investigation has resulted in the arrest of three juveniles, ages 14-17, residents of Virginia Beach. All are currently being held at the Virginia Beach Juvenile Detention Center on petitions involving Malicious Assault, Predicate Criminal Act (gang activity), and Possession with intent to distribute Marijuana. Other charges may be pending.
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This investigation involved many police resources to include the Special Investigations Intelligence Unit, the School Police Resource Officers, officers from the 4th Precinct, and members of the Homicide Unit with Detective Jerry Cale as the lead investigator.
The Police Department will not mention the names of the gangs involved in investigations because we do not wish to give them notoriety, something they seek. The names and photographs of the juveniles charged are being withheld due to Virginia State Code.
If you have further information about any gang related activity in the Level Green area, please contact the police or call Crime Solver of Virginia Beach
This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 21st, 2007 at 8:14 pm and is filed under Virginia Beach. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.