NORFOLK, Va. — Portsmouth Police made an arrest in a quadruple homicide that happened two months ago. Detectives believe two men, both relatives, are responsible for the deadly shooting.
57-year-old Raymond Lee Gore is behind bars tonight. He is charged with four counts of aggravated murder. He also faces gun and assault charges.
His relative, 40-year-old Antwann Jacque Gore is facing the same charges. But Antwann Gore is still on the run.
The shooting happened in June on Maple Avenue.
“On Friday, August 19th Mr. Raymond Gore was arrested and charged with four counts of capital murder, four counts of unauthorized use of a firearm, and four counts of shooting in the commission of a felony," interim Portsmouth police chief Stephen Jenkins said. “This is just the first step in the process of getting justice not only for those individuals but some sort of closure for their family.”
The shooting behind those charges happened inside a home at the corner of Maple Avenue and Randolph Street. Responding officers found three people dead at the scene. A fourth victim died at the hospital days later.
The victims are: 34-year-old Ashley Merricks, 30-year-old Georgio Lee, 37-year-old Oleisha Mears, and 66-year-old Samuel Jones. Jones died at the hospital.
The grandmother of Ashley Merricks' son, Evelyn Lomax called the shooting a senseless crime.
“It’s sad. I’m trying to hold my composure but how could anyone just do this? Four people. Four. This the worst crime I ever seen and I’ve been in Portsmouth basically all my life," Lomax said. “Just knowing that they have picked someone up for this senseless crime, it makes us feel that today is their day. It’s their day.”
Georgio Lee’s Uncle, Ronnie Lee said he knows Raymond Gore, one of the suspects.
“For years. We met coming up, hanging out, back in Dale’s home in Lincoln Park days. We might have played ball on the court," Lee said. "“I’m just dumbfounded.”
Lee said he and Gore were friends and hung out when they were younger.
“Never had no problems, no quarrels, no problems, nothing," Lee said. "To hear his name being in this? Oh, man.”
Gore was arrested on Aug. 18 for unrelated charges of aggravated malicious wounding, unauthorized use of a firearm, shooting or stabbing in the commission of a felony and reckless handling of a firearm.
The next day, police officers also charged him with the quadruple shooting on Maple Avenue. Wednesday, they said he's still in the custody of the city sheriff's office.
Chief Jenkins said anonymous tips helped detectives find Raymond Gore; And officers are hoping more people will call in with information about Antwann Gore. He was named as a suspect in the case on Sunday.
"Right now I’m asking for anyone that knows the whereabouts of Mr. Gore for them to contact the police department and assist us in bringing him to justice," Jenkins said. "And to Mr. Gore directly I say to you, please turn yourself in so you can have your day in court.”
Both men are facing four counts of aggravated murder, four counts of unauthorized use of a firearm, and four counts of shooting in the commission of a felony.
If you know where Antwann Gore is, you can call the police department or the area's Crime Line (1.888.LOCK.U.UP). Crime Line callers can stay anonymous, and there's an additional cash reward added to the usual compensation if your tip leads to his arrest.