VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A 15-year-old girl is dead and a man has been injured in shootings at Mount Trashmore Saturday, Virginia Beach Police said.
Police said the girl died at the hospital and the 18-year-old is in critical condition.
Around 8:30 p.m. police were called for a shooting in the 300 block of Edwin Drive — the site of Mount Trashmore — just outside the Summer Carnival area.
According to VBPD, a fight began at the carnival but was quickly broken up by off-duty Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office deputies who were working security at the event. However, the fight later started again in the parking lot on Edwin Drive. During the fight someone pulled out a gun and fired shots, police said.
VBPD said that “due to the proximity of the carnival, units arrived quickly and rendered aid, establish the crime scene, exfiltrated an exorbitant amount of traffic, and began the process of locating suspects. This is a chaotic scene which will [take] some time to investigate.”
“I overheard people talking about all sorts of fights and whatnot occurring,” said a man who declined to give his name. “So I’m standing out there, and not even two minutes after that, I hear a gunshot, some people scurrying toward me. … and on the other side of the road, more gunshots. And after that, a few more fights broke out.”
The Summer Carnival was scheduled to operate from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday evening.
The day after the shooting, groups of people still attended the carnival.
Regan Schutte told 10 On Your Side that she tried to bring her daughter to the event Saturday night, but turned around when she saw the large police presence and later found out what happened.
“It did make me hesitant even to bring her back at first but then when I kind of heard that it was not at the fair, it was something else removed, I said we’re going to be there during the day, so we decided to do that,” Schutte said.
But she didn’t know the young ages of the victims. She was shocked when she found out.
“Oh my gosh, I did not know the age of the girl until now,” she said. “That’s terrible.”
Police Chief Paul Neudigate said the increase in youth gun violence in the community “is disturbing and reprehensible.”
“It is heartbreaking to continue to see young lives being lost and families torn apart by these senseless acts,” Neudigate said.
Police said there is no suspect information at this time.
Anyone with information about this incident should contact the VBPD Detective Bureau at 757-385-4101 or anonymously through Crime Solvers at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or P3tips.com.
Virginia Beach Police have also created an evidence submission portal for people to submit videos or photos of anyone, or vehicles, that were involved in any fights/shootings or any other crimes at the Summer Carnival, as well as outside the venue in the parking lots.
“No amount of information is insignificant, and we encourage all with any knowledge of this crime to contact us.
VBPD
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.
