PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Three months into 2024, Portsmouth Police have responded to 14 homicides, three of those coming in the past week.
Over the weekend, Portsmouth police chief Stephen Jenkins called a news conference after a man was shot and killed last Friday while walking to his car on Dale Drive.
Less than a week later, two other people were shot to death in separate incidents.
Jenkins addressed crime in the city during his Saturday news conference.
“Crime is not an easy fix. It is a multi-complex situation,” Jenkins said this past Saturday.
The conference was called after Jenkins said police were blamed for the death of 28-year-old Daniel Rodgers last Friday night on Dale Drive. He called it misinformation from a rapidly-spread rumor. Jenkins showed surveillance video showing police who were responding to another call in the area when they heard gunshots and then ran to help Rodgers.
“As a city and as a police chief of this city, we’re doing everything we can to come up with viable solutions to address these issues,” Jenkins said.
While the chief of police addressed the tragedy on Dale Drive, he also put out a call to action for those who’ve witnessed violent crime.
“We know that folks are afraid, we know folks are afraid of retaliation and intimidation,” Jenkins said. “However, if you don’t come forward, you allow that stuff to fester in your community. In order for evil to continue to prevail, a good man must do nothing and we have to do something.”
Three days after his address, 30-year-old Yolanda Jackson was shot and killed Tuesday night on Portsmouth Blvd. and Wall Street.
Less than 24 hours later, 24-year-old Andrese Jennings was found shot to death at a shopping center on Airline Boulevard.
“At some point in time as a city and as a community and as citizens of this city, we have to take a stand regardless of our fear,” Jenkins said.
Portsmouth police ask that if you have any information on these homicides to contact them.