VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The Virginia Beach Police Department created an anonymous digital portal to help find the culprits in a shooting that left an 8-year-old boy in a medically-induced coma.
Landyn Davis is lying in the hospital with a bullet lodged in his head.
It has left his parents and the community wondering — who could do something like this?
Through the use of a new system, the Virginia Beach Police Department is hoping to answer that question.
Three days after Landyn was shot, police announced an anonymous digital evidence portal where people can upload photos and videos pertaining to the case.
In a statement sent to 10 On Your Side by the department’s Public Information Officer they said in part, “We have been using this technology on a limited basis with individual victims. Today, we feel comfortable incorporating this software into our investigative process as we seek to increase our community’s engagement with criminal investigations.”
In search for justice for her son, Emily Rigsby said she’s all for the new system.
“It’s amazing and I hope people use the tool,” Rigsby said. “I know a lot of people these days don’t want to be labeled as a snitch and this is something that would be easier for the younger crowd or anybody else who would be afraid of backlash.”
She told 10 On Your Side her son, thankfully, is doing a lot better.
“He’s doing very good he’s stable,” she said. “The numbers are looking good. The swelling isn’t as bad as we anticipated, so he’s doing very good.”
The Virginia Beach Crime Solvers has announced up to a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the shooting.
“This senseless act of violence has greatly impacted our community and we ask for their assistance in helping us secure justice for the family,” Virginia Beach Crime Solvers said in a Facebook post.
In the days since little Landyn was shot, people have raised almost $30,000 for the family.
“It’s definitely an overwhelming amount of love and support that we have from our friends and family,” Rigsby said, “and our friends who we don’t even know who they are and the community and it’s definitely a very good feeling. We’ve had messages from North Carolina, Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan, people from all over the United States.”
Landyn’s dad, Steven Davis, said the messages of support are helping them through such a difficult time.
“It does help out a lot, because we’re going through it and the words are helping us stay strong for him,” Steven Davis said.
Anyone with photos or videos pertaining to this case can put them into the new VBPD system.
