VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate addressed the Virginia Beach City Council Tuesday afternoon about the deadly shooting of a 15-year-old girl.
The meeting began with an update on the fatal shooting that happened at Mount Trashmore on Saturday.
Neudigate said police originally believed the shooting was connected to a fight that broke out inside the carnival that was underway at the time. However, police now believe the two incidents are separate and unrelated.
An 18-year-old man was also shot and Neudigate said he believes the teens condition has been upgraded from critical condition to serious condition.
The chief told council members that the investigation has been challenging due to misinformation that was given to police. He said that no one has stepped forward to be an independent eye witness and that police have been lied to repeatedly.
“This investigation is still of the utmost priority, like I mentioned our detectives are working nonstop. What I would ask for the media to take out to the community, that there were a lot of people there, we know someone knows who was involved,” said Chief Neudigate. “No matter how trivial you think that information is, please bring that to us. No matter how trivial you think that footage you may have captured on your phone that night may be, please go to one of our websites and upload it to our digital evidence platform so that our detectives can go through it to help solve this case”
While discussing overall crime statistics, Neudigate said crime is down 13% in Virginia Beach with a 36% decrease in homicides and shootings.
“So while this incident is horrific, and it is, we have to be understanding of what the actual data looks like,” said Neudigate.
Neudigate pointed out that VBPD formed the Youth Services Unit in January 2023 to provide mentorship, guidance and relationship building with the youth in Virginia Beach.
The chief said his department plans to expand their outreach on Instagram and other social media platforms. He said that on a daily basis police see youth on Instagram with guns that rival the quality and caliber of what police officers carry.
According to Neudigate, guns are stolen in 10% of all car break-ins in the city.
“Guns are prolific in our society. There is a second amendment right. I would just offer that even with our constitutional carry and with our CCWs there should still come responsibility with our right. And leaving those [guns] unsecured and unprotected in the vehicle…we’ve implored our community not to do it,” said Neudigate. “Those guns that you are leaving in your car are ending up in the hands of folks in the city of Virginia Beach and our outlining communities that should not have them, and then there being used in these crimes.”
Mayor Bobby Dyer said that he is trying to get the state legislature to enact legislation for anger management and de-escalation skills in schools.
“This is a national crisis and certainly Virginia Beach is not immune. And while were grateful for a safe city we do have to be proactive,” said Mayor Dyer.