VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — An armed robbery in Virginia Beach and a shooting incident in Chesapeake the day before were linked to the same suspect using technology, Virginia Beach police said.
Virginia Beach police arrested 21-year-old Timothy Lane of New Jersey on charges of daytime armed burglary, armed robbery, two counts of use of a firearm in commission of a felony, wearing a mask, and felony destruction of property. The charges stemmed from an armed robbery on Oct. 15 in the 700 block of Brook Meadow Court for a home invasion robbery, police said.
During Lane's arrest, Virginia Beach police recovered a firearm and submitted it to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms' National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). This technology allows police to submit spent cartridge cases to determine if the firearm has been used in other offenses.
In this case, police discovered that the firearm had been used the day before in Chesapeake for a shooting incident, they said. Lane was charged by Chesapeake police with shooting at an occupied dwelling, vandalism over $1,000, conspiracy to commit vandalism, possession of an auto sear, possession of a stolen firearm, carrying a loaded firearm with extended magazine, reckless handling of a firearm and willful discharge of a firearm in a public place.
“Technology is a force multiplier for our department, as it is for other departments in our region and across the country,” said Virginia Beach police chief Paul Neudigate. "We're thankful to have our own NIBIN equipment that allows us to ... share this information with our regional law enforcement partners to keep Hampton Roads safe."
