PORTSMOUTH, Va. — After two shootings in Portsmouth on the Fourth of July holiday left a suspect dead and another person seriously injured, the city's top cop is speaking out.
Portsmouth Police Chief Stephen Jenkins released a statement Friday afternoon expressing discontentment with the gun violence and sharing additional details about what led to the shootings.
"It is unfortunate that violence continues to afflict communities nationwide, even during festive occasions like the Fourth of July, and Portsmouth is no exception," Jenkins wrote. "Yesterday, two separate shooting incidents occurred in our city."
According to Jenkins' statement, a deadly shooting on High Street stemmed from a person stealing merchandise at a convenience store, resulting in "a shooting transpiring between an employee and the individual."
After the suspect was shot, he died from his injuries at a hospital, Jenkins wrote.
Portsmouth resident Benjamin Spears said he had just left the store when he heard around five shots.
"It’s real difficult out here, and it’s scary trying to go to the store, and right after you leave, there’s a shootout," Spears told 13News Now. His 3-year-old son was with him at the time of the incident. Spears added, "The city's not safe for him."
Later on Thursday, a man was seriously hurt in another shooting near Portsmouth's waterfront, on Water Street. Kevin Prevatte says he was nearby, enjoying the Independence Day festivities.
"About 30 minutes after everybody dispersed, we heard a pop," explained Prevatte. He added, "About 10 minutes later a lady came up to us and said, ‘Y'all might want to go inside; there’s a gunman that hasn’t been detained.'"
Chief Jenkins wrote that the shooting followed a fight between two men and that police have an arrest warrant for Randall Bagley Jr., 47.
Michele Fulton was also at the waterfront. She told us, "I felt bad for the kids. To taint their experience with the fireworks and the fourth of July..."
Portsmouth native Denise Davis told 13News Now, the city has changed since her childhood.
"I don’t think it’s a crime to go back to the old ways," she said. "We used to play in the street until 9 o’clock at night."
Chief Jenkins said that both shootings are under investigation. He encouraged people with information to call the Portsmouth Police Department at 757-393-8536 or 911.
People can also call the Crime Line at 1-888-562-5887 or use P3 Tips online to submit a tip.