PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Several people were shot in Portsmouth Tuesday night, leaving multiple injured and one dead, police said.
Portsmouth police say that they received a call requesting police and medical assistance in the 3700th block of Greenway Court East around 9:50 p.m.
When officers arrived they found two women and a man with gunshot wounds. They were taken to the hospital for their injuries. The woman, 18-year-old Ameerah Green's, gunshot wound was fatal. Her family has been notified.
"Another act of senseless gun violence that is plaguing the community and the city of Portsmouth," said anti-violence activist Darrell Redmond.
Only a few minutes later Portsmouth dispatch was notified of a man with a gunshot wound walking into a local hospital. Police do not know if the incidents are connected at this time.
Redmond said he was there at the scene during the storm and says the trauma of what happened was evident.
"So, when I got the call last night I was there as well with the whole situation and seeing pain and trauma and it’s never a good thing," he said. "Just seeing that in the midst of a pouring down storm just didn’t sit right… well with anybody that was out there."
In his efforts to try to stop this from happening, Redmond said he had a productive meeting with Portsmouth Police Chief Stephen Jenkins on Monday about a new plan to reduce gun violence.
"Portsmouth is getting ready to launch an amazing program called ‘Portsmouth United’ that’s going to bring a lot of the community-based organizations, as well as the government agencies and things like that to put a holistic approach together," he said.
As for this latest shooting in the city, police say there is no ongoing threat to the community.
Redmond said it’s still going to leave a mark.
"When one person is hurt, a whole community and a whole family is actually hurt."
For the people who are causing this violence, Redmond has a message.
"Have more empathy inside these situations because it could be somebody else’s family today, but it could be your family tomorrow and how would you feel?"
The investigation is ongoing. If you have any information that may help detectives, you're asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-562-5887 or submit a tip online at P3Tips.com.