VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate talked exclusively with 13News Now Anchor Dan Kennedy on Wednesday for a wide-ranging interview about what can be done to address rising youth violence.
Five of the city's seven homicides in 2024 involve teenagers, and the violence often stems from trivial spats. The motives include a marijuana sale, a lover's triangle and a slap on the basketball court.
But they all have one thing in common: the alleged teenage triggermen should never have had a gun in the first place.
Virginia Beach police seek to crack down on marijuana sales
In Virginia Beach, 90% of the city's illegal drug-related crime is fueled by marijuana, according to Neudigate.
"Where you may think it will be heroin, you may think it will be cocaine, methamphetamine, nope. It’s marijuana," Neudigate said. "We have young men losing their lives in this community today over 200 dollars’ worth of marijuana.”
Neudigate said to expect his police officers to start cracking down on marijuana sales, which he said is driving much of the city's shooting violence.
"I see the social media reaction — 'well, it's legal.' No, it's not legal. Small amounts are legal for your personal possession," he explained. “But if you are selling it, we are still going to proactively investigate and charge you."
Kids show off guns on social media, Neudigate says
Virginia Beach police have arrested six teens in fatal shootings this year. In many cases, police say teens are stealing weapons from legal gun owners who leave them in their cars.
“Ten percent of all vehicles broken into this year in Virginia Beach, they get a gun," Neudigate said.
And once they get a gun, Neudigate said the teens aren't shy about showing it off on social media.
In fact, Neudigate said that much of the city's violence is driven by social media.
"Not only are they beefing about conflicts in the community, they're all posturing with firearms," he said. "14 year olds, 15 years olds, 16 year olds, 17 year olds, posting all over social media."
When we asked if he thinks parents know, Neudigate responded: "How could they not?"
Police chief calls on parents to take action
And that's where the city's top cop comes down hard on parents.
"If I can go to open source Instagram and see pictures of your children posing with weed and guns, I think you could find that too," he said.
Neudigate doesn't think police could have prevented any of the youth homicides this year. Instead, he says it will take help on the home front.
"You need to go into your kid's rooms and you need to see if they have a firearm in there, and if they do, you need to take it. A child has no right to a firearm," he said.
If you find a gun in your kid's room, Neudigate said to bring it to the police department to drop it off. He said no one will be charged and no questions will be asked.
Police aren't getting cooperation in Mount Trashmore deadly shooting investigation
Police have solved every homicide this year in Virginia Beach, except one: the shooting of a 15-year-old girl outside the carnival at Mount Trashmore.
And detectives are getting no help from the public.
Homicide investigators believe they have been lied to and misinformed by people who likely saw something.
“I think the sheer magnitude of the number of people out at a carnival on a Saturday night when this event happens and not one person — not one person — will come forward to give us a description, to give us a name, to give us a nickname," he said.
More ShotSpotter technology coming to Virginia Beach
Two of the homicides involving children this year happened in Level Green.
As a result of the recent gun violence, Chief Neudigate told 13News Now that they are aiming to have installed new ShotSpotter technology in that neighborhood by July.
Virginia Beach police also encourage families this summer to take advantage of the programs offered through the Youth Services Unit.