VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Police have filed a criminal charge against a man who allegedly set an apartment complex on fire in Virginia Beach on Saturday night.
The Virginia Beach Police Department was called on Saturday, Jan. 2 around 11:12 p.m. about gunshots that were heard in the 300 block of Cedarwood Court. Right after the initial call, police said another report came in about a possible apartment fire at the same location.
When officers arrived, they found a unit in flames, along with damage from the gunshots.
A woman who lives nearby and asked to remain anonymous shared what she witnessed.
"I heard at least eight. I stopped counting after eight. But I’m pretty sure it was 12 mag that they unloaded," she said.
The Virginia Beach Fire Department was also on the scene and officials said the structure was intentionally set on fire. According to firefighters, the unit was unoccupied during the fire.
"I was trying to tell the dispatch they shot up the place and they came back shot up the place and lit it on fire," said the woman.
She said her boyfriend saw the person who they believe committed the crime.
“He seen the guy come out of the house and he had a pistol behind his back coming out and the guy came out and lit something, like an object or a cocktail or something and threw it inside," said the woman.
The Fire Marshal's office filed charges against 34-year-old Jerrod Vines of Portsmouth. He's charged with one count of arson to an occupied dwelling.
There was no information provided as to whether Vines would face charges for the shooting incident.
Officials said Vines is not in custody and no injuries were reported from the fire or the gunshots.
The VBFD and VBPD are investigating the incident and said no further information is available at this time.
“It could’ve been so much worse I mean this guy is a serious criminal," said the woman.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the Virginia Beach Crime Solvers at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.