Roanoke, Virginia – The Roanoke Police Department has noted a significant increase in gun-related crimes this year, documenting 48 cases involving assaults and homicides. These figures reflect a nearly 70% increase in homicides compared to the previous year.
Interim Police Chief Jerry Stokes mentioned that out of the 18 recorded homicide victims, four were young Black males aged between 16 and 18. Notably, the Northwest neighborhoods have experienced approximately 70% of the reported violence.
The Department has resolved 20 of these assault and homicide cases with arrests. Currently, 15 cases remain active, while 13 are categorized as either inactive or as a “closed exception.”
Deputy Chief Stokes clarified the term “closed exception” typically refers to instances where the victim opts not to collaborate with the police. Among the inactive cases, two are associated with unserved warrants. The remaining cases are either a mix of the two aforementioned scenarios or situations where investigators have exhausted all available leads and cannot proceed.
In a proactive measure, the Roanoke Police Department has introduced an initiative focused on addressing illegally possessed firearms within the community. They are also coordinating with both State and Federal entities to enhance their efforts.
Furthermore, the RESET team has highlighted the positive outcomes of intensified patrols, specifically in regions like Hanover Avenue NW, where residents have observed a discernible improvement in safety.
