Virginia Beach officials are calling for urgent action from state lawmakers after a chaotic exchange of gunfire erupted among rival groups in one of the city’s most heavily policed tourist zones, wounding eight people in just 12 seconds despite the presence of 90 officers within a 10-block radius.
Mayor Bobby Dyer and Police Chief Paul Neudigate used a Monday afternoon press conference to highlight what they described as an escalating crisis that demands cooperation beyond city resources. “The time is now for us to act, and we must act together,” Dyer said. “We must build the bridges that we need with the various entities that will put this together. It’s a national problem, it’s a local problem.” He urged General Assembly members to participate in ride-alongs with officers to witness firsthand the challenges facing the department.
Chief Neudigate underscored the breakneck pace of the violence that unfolded near the Oceanfront boardwalk on Saturday night. “From the initial approach to punches being thrown to guns being pulled and shots fired, between the two groups, ladies and gentlemen, 12 seconds,” Neudigate said. “No one out there can de-escalate a conflict that goes from approach to gunfire in 12 seconds.”
The shooting occurred around 9:50 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in the 1400 block of Atlantic Avenue. Officers responded after a ShotSpotter activation detected gunfire in the bustling tourist corridor. When they arrived, eight victims were scattered across the scene with gunshot wounds.
Homicide detectives determined that two unrelated groups had approached each other from opposite directions. A confrontation erupted, and at least three people drew firearms and opened fire in the crowded area.
The victims ranged from 17 to 24 years old and hailed from Portsmouth, Richmond, Lancaster, and Chesterfield in Virginia, as well as Snellville, Georgia. Each suffered injuries ranging from non-life-threatening to serious, though police confirmed all eight are expected to survive. All were taken to area hospitals.
One suspect, 18-year-old Jamya Williams of Henrico County, was arrested at the scene. Williams herself was among the wounded, having been shot in the ankle. According to court documents, she admitted during questioning that she had fired a weapon during the incident.
Surveillance footage shows Williams on a sidewalk when a fight erupted in front of her. She pulled a handgun and began shooting, the criminal complaint states. Later video shows Williams collapsing after being struck. A .40-caliber handgun was recovered near where she fell, and investigators linked the weapon to two prior shooting incidents in Richmond.
Williams appeared virtually at her Monday morning arraignment in Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. She faces multiple charges, including reckless firearm use, assault, aggravated assault, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, violations of a protective order, and illegal possession of two firearms.
Isaiah Charity, an 18-year-old from Richmond, turned himself in to authorities. He faces 24 outstanding charges, including eight counts each of aggravated malicious wounding, using a firearm in the commission of a felony, and reckless handling of a firearm causing injury. One count corresponds to each victim wounded in the shooting.
A third suspect has not been identified. Authorities describe him as a Black male last seen in a dark-colored hoodie with possible red lettering on the back. Separately, officers arrested 21-year-old Jahmari Savage of Chesapeake on a concealed weapon charge after discovering him with a 9mm handgun, though police confirmed he was not involved in the shooting.
The violence has intensified worries among residents and business owners as the city enters its peak tourism season. Workers near the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier reported that the Saturday night gunfire forced some businesses to close early. A local resident expressed concern that the incident is damaging Virginia Beach’s long-standing reputation as a family-friendly resort destination.
City officials implemented a weekend curfew on March 12 that runs through the end of April, barring unaccompanied minors from the Oceanfront between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. A separate incident over the weekend involving hundreds of youths fighting and reports of guns at a Virginia Beach trampoline park further strained the department’s resources.
Authorities are asking anyone with information, photographs, or video from the Oceanfront on the night of April 11 to contact the Virginia Beach Police Department at 757-385-4101. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Solvers at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or through the P3Tips platform.
