NORFOLK, Va. — Police have arrested and charged a Norfolk man after a disturbance that occurred on September 22 near the IKEA in Norfolk.
Rodney L. Marshall, 27, was charged with Firearm by felon, brandishing a firearm, brandishing a firearm within 1,000 feet of a high school and disorderly conduct.
In a Tweet, Norfolk Police said the call came in around 10:30 a.m. that there was a person with a weapon in the 6000 block of Northampton Boulevard.
According to the Norfolk Police Department, Marshall was brandishing a firearm as cars passed near Northampton Boulevard and Ikea Way.
When officers arrived, they found Marshall near the intersection of Northampton Boulevard and USAA Drive, and after a short pursuit they were able to detain him and transport him to Sentara Leigh Hospital, where he currently remains.
No injuries were reported from the incident.
When released, Marshall will be transported to Norfolk City Jail.
IKEA posted on its website that the store would be closed for the remainder of the day.
A number of customers came to the store not knowing it was closed. However, they expressed concern about the gunshot disturbance.
“It’s very very upsetting that in the middle of the day, the middle of the week," one woman told 13News Now. "No matter where you are, you got to be worried, it seems."
Customer Priscilla Johnson was waiting to get to the store too. Johnson hopes the shootings in Hampton Roads stop.
“Hopefully we resolve the problem and start putting up the stuff and searching people before they come in. That's the only way you can do it to stop the shooting right now," said Johnson.
In a statement to 13News Now, an IKEA spokesperson said, "Our priority is the safety of our customers and co-workers, and the IKEA Norfolk store will remain closed for today. We are fully cooperating with the local authorities and ask that you direct all questions to the Norfolk Police Department."