CHESAPEAKE, Va. — A 15-year-old teenage boy is dead after a shooting on Monday night, the Chesapeake Police Department (CPD) said. It marks a grim milestone for the City of Chesapeake.
According to CPD, half of the individuals involved in the city's homicides are now victims. Police have recorded a total of eight victims since the start of 2024, and 13News Now recorded only nine homicides total in 2023.
Chesapeake Mayor Rick West said he is just as alarmed as everyone else to see the amount of young people impacted by gun violence.
"It's something that we as a society, as a country, as a city, and as a state have to find ways to address," said West. "I know our police department is just as concerned."
Investigators said what happened Monday night at Catalina Crossings Apartments remains an active investigation. Police said they found the 15-year-old boy dead from gunshot wounds in the apartment's parking lot around 10:41 p.m.
Leo Kosinski, a CPD spokesman, said detectives are working to determine a motive, but there is no apparent threat to the public. So far, no suspects are in custody.
Chesapeake's Police Chief, Mark Solesky, called the shooting Monday night a "tragedy."
"Like much of the country, we are experiencing an increase in violent crime involving juveniles," said Solesky. "We will continue to work with the community to problem-solve and partner in our ongoing efforts to reduce and solve crime."
These statements come as the U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy in June declared firearm violence a public health crisis. Since then there have been several homicides resulting in the death of minors in cities all across Hampton Roads.
If you have any information on this incident off Randolph Arch., call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
