NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Correction: It was initially reported by spokespeople that two people were injured in the incident.
A man is dead after a shooting near exit 5 on Interstate 664 in Newport News Wednesday night.
According to a spokesperson for Virginia State Police, dispatchers received a call shortly before 6:30 p.m. about a vehicle crash that had occurred on I-664 southbound at the 39th Street exit.
When they got on the scene, they discovered the 24-year-old driver of a 2008 Jeep Compass SUV was suffering from a severe gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Virginia State Police say that an unknown suspect fired at the vehicle's passenger side, killing the male driver. The incident is being investigated as a homicide.
All southbound lanes of I-664 were closed for several hours and traffic diverted as police investigated. All lanes were reportedly back open at about 11:30 p.m.
Investigators are now asking for the public's help to identify suspects in this deadly shooting:
"The Bureau of Criminal Investigation is reaching out to the community members, who may have witnessed any unusual activity prior to 6:30 PM involving a silver 2008 Jeep Compass before, during, or after the incident or in the vicinity of I664 southbound between the MMBT and 39th Street. Witnesses are encouraged to contact state police by cellular at #(757) 424-6800 or by email at questions@vsp.virginia.gov."
By our count at 13News Now so far this year, at least 21 shootings have rattled our interstates in Hampton Roads.
Drivers we spoke with Thursday believe gun violence is a longstanding problem seemingly getting worse.
“There's a rise in the neighborhoods, in the highways. It's sad," said Army veteran and former Newport News resident Donald Johnson.
He also commented on Wednesday's deadly incident. Johnson called for compassion.
"Once a life is taken, none other is given, so why are you playing God?"
As for Newport News resident Joanne Parham, she told 13News Now she stays aware but does not let fear control her.
"The world, just, is out of control," Parham said. "Nowhere is really safe nowadays, even in your own home. You never know when a bullet is going to come flying through the window and hit you that was aimed for somebody else."
At around 12:20 a.m., also on I-664 on Wednesday, a VSP sergeant said an argument involving two people in a black sedan escalated into a shootout. It happened on the Hampton side between Chestnut Avenue and Aberdeen Road southbound.
No one ended up getting shot; however, a 30-year-old hurt himself running away, the sergeant added.
Like drivers 13News Now spoke with, Ryan Adcock with AAA Tidewater urged vigilance and patience behind the wheel.
"You can only control what you're doing out there on the roads, so you want people to perceive it as well as possible but in general just make sure you're following the laws and rules of the road," said Adcock.
He offered some of the following advice in the event you encounter a seemingly aggressive driver.
"Not responding to the driver, just avoiding eye contact in general and just to have some patience, grace, be tolerant and forgiving," said Adcock. "As well as making sure to leave yourself enough room around your vehicle, so that you can have an escape route if you need to."
Furthermore, state troopers said they investigated 35 interstate shootings in Hampton Roads in 2022 and 39 in 2021.