Sheriff’s Office worried about repeat incidents

By Diana McFarland

Managing editor

A shooting in Smithfield Heights has left two men with gunshot wounds and one may be wheelchair-bound for quite some time, according to the Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office. 

The shooting happened in the same neighborhood that had a similar incident shortly before Christmas of last year. 

No arrests have been made as of Monday.

Three individuals were walking down the 14000 block of Melissa Drive at about midnight on Aug. 4, and one was carrying a high-powered rifle, said Lt. Tommy Potter with the Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office.  {mprestriction ids=”1,2,3,4,5,6″}

The individual with the rifle began shooting at two people on a porch on Melissa Drive, said Potter.

Both men were hit, said Potter.

Other individuals in the house heard the shots, grabbed their guns and returned fire, said Potter.

The three individuals in the street fled the scene and the two injured men were bundled up and taken to the hospital by private individuals. They were eventually transferred to Norfolk General, said Potter. 

One victim received a gunshot wound to the back and the second man had four gunshots to his torso and will likely be in a wheelchair for an extended period of time, said Potter. 

Potter said investigators have canvassed the neighborhood but are getting conflicting stories and limited information.

The fear is that it will happen again and an innocent bystander will be shot, Potter said. 

The incident in December, which occurred around high noon rather than midnight, resulted in some property damage but no injuries. 

During that incident, two men were running down the street and one was shooting at another man, according to residents who witnessed the crime.  

Charged in connection with that shooting were John Lee Butler II, Andre Deangelo Towns and James Howard Wrenn. Those men are currently awaiting trial.

Potter urges anyone with information to call the Isle of Wight County Crime Line at 8-LOCK-U-UP (1-888-562-5887) and choose option 10. Tips can also be texted to 274637 and start message with IOWCL or online at www.tipsubmit.com.

All methods are completely anonymous and callers can earn up to $1,000 if information leads to an arrest and conviction. Informants are not required to testify in court.   {/mprestriction}