PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Police in Portsmouth said an SUV led officers on a pursuit Thursday afternoon before stopping at a hospital, where police discovered two gunshot victims inside.
The Portsmouth Police Department (PPD) said around 4:50 p.m., officers were conducting traffic enforcement near Rivershore Road when officers heard gunshots in the area. A short time later, police saw a Hyundai Tucson SUV with bullet holes speeding in the 3900 block of Cedar Lane.
Police said the vehicle refused to stop for officers, leading police on a chase. The SUV finally came to a stop at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. When officers approached it, they found four men inside, two of whom were suffering from gunshot wounds.
Both men reportedly have non-life-threatening injuries. The other two men inside the SUV were detained, with one of them charged with obstruction.
The incident resulted in lane closures and rush-hour traffic backups on the eastbound Western Freeway (VA-164) near the Cedar Lane exit.
Police have not said what led to the shooting or if they are searching for additional suspects. The shooting remains under investigation.
Portsmouth attorney Michael Massie said the obstruction charge carries up to a year in jail and-or up to a $2,500 fine.
“The court is typically going to look at, ‘What was your intent?’ based on the actions that you were doing,” Massie explained.
Massie said if he was representing the defendant, he would seek a dismissal based on intent.
Anyone with information about what happened is asked to reach out to the Crime Line by calling 1-888-562-5887 or by using P3 Tips online.