PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Portsmouth Police Department detectives are looking for the person who shot a 55-year-old man multiple times.
The victim is expected to be ok, but investigators are now asking the public for help. Officers want to know if you can recognize any suspects in surveillance video.
The shooting happened on Pelican Point, which is near Twin Pines Road and the Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve.
According to the Portsmouth Police Department, officers responded shortly before 3:15 a.m. and found the victim with gunshot wounds.
Medics took the man to a hospital. He's expected to be ok.
Police didn't share what led to the shooting or any information about possible suspects.
But while detectives have not given many details about the case, a spokesperson for the Portsmouth Police Department warned against people “taking the law into their own hands.”
The statement said: “While it may seem frustrating to witness injustice or experience wrongdoings to your property, it is important to remember that there is a legal system and authorities that are in place to handle these situations. Taking the law into your own hands can result in unintended consequences and may even lead to further harm or even escalate the situation.”
The statement said: police are advising people to not engage or confront people “if they witness criminal behavior.”
Portsmouth anti-crime activist Freddie Taylor said as gun violence continues to rise across Hampton Roads, conflict resolution is one part of stopping crime. He said it’s important that everyone avoids confrontations that could escalate.
“You want to have the correct conflict resolution," Taylor said. “It could be road rage incidents – we’re seeing those occur, it could be mistaken identity or bad timing. We want to have situational awareness, we want to be conscious of where we are, what we’re doing, and our environment.”
Taylor said each instance of violence impacts not only that community but the wider reputation of the city. He said nonprofits and advocates are doing the work to address the root causes of crime but everyone needs to get on board.
“There are a lot of great initiatives," he said. "There needs to be more dialogue and more unity within the community, especially with grassroots organizations, so we can see a greater impact.”
Anyone with information about what happened is asked to reach out to Portsmouth investigators by calling 757-393-8536. People can also leave an anonymous tip by calling the Crime Line at 1-888-562-5887 or by using P3 Tips online.