VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The two victims shot near Mount Trashmore Park's Summer Carnival Saturday night have been identified as a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man.
In a release on Sunday, the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) said the deadly shooting stemmed from a fight inside the carnival earlier in the night that off-duty Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office deputies had to break up. Then, at around 8:30 p.m., VBPD said the dispute continued outside the carnival in the parking lot located on Edwin Drive.
VBPD said at least one person had a firearm and subsequently fired shots, striking the 15-year-old girl and 18-year-old boy.
Both teenagers were taken to the hospital for treatment where VBPD said the girl, who has not been publicly named, succumbed to her injuries. The 18-year-old man remains in critical condition.
“The increase in youth gun violence that we are experiencing in our community is disturbing and reprehensible. It is heartbreaking to continue to see young lives being lost and families torn apart by these senseless acts,” said Police Chief Paul Neudigate.
Police at the scene Saturday described the shooting as a "chaotic scene."
“It just breaks my heart,” said Virginia Beach resident Shailendra Moondra.
He said he couldn't believe that a shooting took place at an event where he used to take his children when they were young.
“That’s the last thing which, as a parent, you would imagine something will happen at, at a place where everyone is going where families are going to have a good time,” he said.
Mayor Bobby Dyer said he sends thoughts and prayers to the victims' families and loved ones.
“This is an epidemic that we have to confront,” he said.
Dyer said after learning about the shooting, he contacted the mayor of Hampton to schedule an emergency youth violence task force meeting. He said the task force involves mayors and other leaders in Hampton Roads.
“As the summer starts, we have to be proactive in engaging in this crisis,” he said.
He said the city is already taking steps to prevent violence with their own initiative looking at adding mentorships and creating a job pipeline.
Dyer wants residents to know safety is a top priority.
“We work every day to make sure our residents in Virginia Beach feel safe,” he said.
VBPD said there is currently no suspect information. Anyone with information on the incident is urged to call the VBPD Detective Bureau at 757-385-4101.
Police are asking for the community's assistance in collecting digital evidence of the crime. VBPD has created a digital evidence portal where people can upload photos and videos pertaining to the case. The link to the portal can be found here.
The Mount Trashmore Summer Carnival opened on Friday night and was scheduled to run until June 19. A spokesperson for the City of Virginia Beach confirmed the carnival would reopen Sunday "with an increased presence" of law enforcement at the scene, including Virginia Beach police, Sheriff deputies and private security.
"The safety and well-being of residents and visitors are top priorities," the statement reads. "We understand how the recent incident may have affected the community’s sense of security. Our commitment is to make sure everyone in our city feels safe and protected."