Two men were fatally shot and three others critically injured in a late-night shooting near a bus servicing company in Suffolk, Virginia on Thursday, September 12, 2024. The horrifying event took place about 35 miles southeast of Virginia Beach, leaving the local community in shock.
Suffolk Police Chief James Buie identified the victims in a press conference the following afternoon. William Goodman Jr., 37, was pronounced dead at the scene, while 30-year-old Demonte Tillery succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
The Suffolk Police Department revealed that a 911 call about a shooting on East Washington Street was reported just before 11:30 p.m. on Thursday. Arriving officers found five people with gunshot wounds, according to a press release from the department. The Suffolk Fire & Rescue team also responded and provided immediate medical assistance to the victims.
In addition to the two fatalities, three other gunshot victims – two men and a woman – were rushed to the hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Chief Buie stated at the Friday afternoon press conference that they were expected to survive.
The reason for the shooting remains undetermined, and no information about the shooter or potential suspects has been released by the police. Notably, the area of the incident, near a bus servicing company on East Washington Street, is not typically associated with such violent acts.
Suffolk, Virginia has a higher crime rate than the national average, with 23 crimes reported for every 1,000 residents. The city’s violent crime rate is particularly alarming, with residents having a 1 in 211 chance of falling victim to a violent crime. Furthermore, Suffolk has one of the highest murder rates among cities of comparable size in the country.
The Suffolk Police Department is actively investigating the incident and seeking public help. “Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to contact Suffolk Police or go to the Suffolk Police Department website (www.suffolkva.us/spd) and look for the Suffolk Crime Line link,” the department announced.
Photographs from the crime scene showed a dump truck riddled with bullet holes and shattered driver’s side glass. The truck, bearing the logo “Good Guys Enterprise LLC”, was owned by victim Goodman. Several other vehicles were also targeted, and shell casings were found scattered around. A local resident estimated that dozens of rounds were fired, describing the scene as reminiscent of a war zone.
This incident was the second fatal shooting in Suffolk in the same week. Earlier, on Monday, September 9, Alvin Brown Jr., 24, was killed by a gunshot to the chest on the 6100 block of Old Townpoint Road.
