PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A Portsmouth teenager is recovering after Portsmouth Police said someone stabbed her following a domestic dispute on Dale Drive.
Police received a 911 call at around one o'clock in the morning at the Dale Homes community. There first responders found the teen suffering from a single stab wound.
"Our children should never have to go through these types of situations," said De'Andre Barnes, a Portsmouth City Councilman.
Barnes grew up on Dale Drive and said he heard about the stabbing shortly after it happened.
He said he was in constant contact with Portsmouth's Chief of Police, Stephen Jenkins, following the violence that has happened on Dale Drive as service calls continue to climb for the area.
Public records show between 2022 and 2023, Portsmouth police responded to 155 calls for service to Dale Drive. Of those, 31 were for various calls of assault, a dozen for shots fired.
That number went up to 548 calls for service between March 2023 and March 2024.
From 2019 to 2023, shootings injured or killed 28 people on Dale Drive.
"We know that folks are afraid of retaliation and intimidation, however, if you don’t come forward, you allow that stuff to fester in your community," said Chief Jenkins, in an April press conference. "It is paramount that we get individuals like this off the street. They do not deserve to walk these city streets at all."
Jenkins made this statement following the death of a 28-year-old man who was shot to death in early April on Dale Drive.
Weeks later, a 10-year-old boy died after someone shot him just two miles away from the Dale Homes community.
Barnes said Portsmouth City Council needs to do more to protect teenagers and children from violent crimes.
"It's an ongoing conversation that has gone on for years," said Barnes. "We need to take action on this because Portsmouth is losing too many kids."
The stabbing remains under investigation. Portsmouth Police did not announce any arrests related to the case.