BY MILES LAYTON
A couple of recent shootings in Elizabeth City have been in the news of late.
Rather than copy, paste and post the ECPD’s press release to the web, here’s an update on how many reports of shots fired/shootings – a total of 12 incidents with 10 gunshot victims, including 2 deaths – there have been since Jan. 1 in Elizabeth City. Data comes from ECPD reports.
Based on the number of recent shootings, Acting Police Chief Eddie Graham Jr. and ECPD officers have been busy. Unlike most mainstream media outlets, the Albemarle Observer backs the blue — so publishing this listing is not an indictment of ECPD because we know the officers are working hard to keep the public safe – Toby Keith/Willie Nelson’s song “Beer for my horses” comes to mind.
- Jan 20 – Shots were fired at three teenagers in the Parkview Drive area. No injuries were reported, but shell casings were recovered.
- February 1 – When ECPD responded to a call of shots fired in the area of White Street and Herrington Road, officers discovered Tyell Britt, 26, of Elizabeth City had been shot – he was flown to Norfolk General Hospital for treatment.
- February 8 – When ECPD responded to a call of shots fired around 11:30 a.m. within the 700 block of Southern Avenue, officers discovered Dominic Townes, 39, of Elizabeth City had been shot. Malik L. Harrell, 25, of Elizabeth City, was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon and intent to kill.
- March 10 – When ECPD responded to a call of shots fired around 5 p.m. by the 400 building of Walkers Landing Apartments, officers discovered an apartment had been struck by gunfire while occupied by a mother and two children. Rontrez T. Coleman, 21, was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, shooting into an occupied dwelling, damage to property and shooting in the city limits.
- April 24 – When ECPD responded to a call of shots fired around 8 p.m. in the 1000 block of Walkers Avenue, they discovered several shell casings and how several apartments were hit by gunfire. Joshua T. Marquette, 22, of Elizabeth City was arrested and charged with shooting into an occupied dwelling.
- Apr 27 – In the early morning hours of Sunday, a shooting occurred at the center of campus at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) following Yard Fest, part of the Viking Fest events held in the quad area, according to a press release from ECSU. Six people were wounded, four of them by gunshots, with Isaiah Caldwell, 24, being killed, while the other two were injured in the commotion.
- April 29 – When ECPD responded to a call of shots fired around 5 p.m. in the area by Herrington Road and Brown Street, they discovered and recovered shell casings. Joseph Richard Small Jr., 23, of Hertford was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, carrying a concealed gun, armed terror of people, discharge of a firearm in city limits and a probation violation. A juvenile was also arrested.
- May 9 – Gideon C. Griffin Jr. was shot and killed in his apartment at Walker Landing Apartments. Joseph Earl Simmons, 45, was arrested and charged with murder and discharging a weapon into an occupied property.
- June 5 – When ECPD responded to a call of shots fired in the area of West Ehringhaus Street, officers discovered several subjects were firing shots. Derontae Norfleet, 18, and a juvenile were arrested — each charged with two counts of shooting into an unoccupied property. No one was hit.
- Jun 20 – There was a shooting incident around 4:30 p.m. Friday in the 1500 block of West Ehringhouse St. Lamont Riddick, 47, was shot in the leg and transported to Sentara Norfolk Hospital in stable condition. Brandon Lamar Harris, 39, was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill/serious injury. A warrant was issued for Tremanye Tobias Harris, 30, for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill/inflicting serious injury, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
- July 7 – ECPD responded to a report of shots fired around 4:28 a.m. within the 400 block of West Colonial Avenue – shell casings recovered, with one residence struck by gunfire. Nearby, within the 200 block of Bell Street, two juveniles with gunshot injuries were transported with non-life threatening injuries were transported to Albemarle Sentara Hospital.
- July 10 – ECPD responded to a report of shots fired around 11:40 a.m. within the 400 block of Tatem Lane – shell casings recovered with one residence struck by gunfire. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Devone Jerrell Williams, 36, of Winfall, who was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and discharging a weapon into an occupied property. ECPD said Williams is considered armed and dangerous.
