NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A double-shooting at the Heritage Forest Apartments in southeast Newport News Saturday left a man dead and a woman critically wounded, authorities said. Newport News police responded after their ShotSpotter system detected gunfire, and investigators established a crime scene at the 250-unit complex on Marshall and Timber Drive.
Police say both victims found outside, transported to hospital
Newport News Police Department spokesperson Matt Michalec said officers arrived to find a man and a woman with gunshot wounds outside the apartment buildings. Both victims were transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. The male victim later succumbed to his injuries, while the female remains critically wounded and is receiving treatment.
“They were both transported to a local hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries,”
Michalec told media that the department’s acoustic gunfire detection system — ShotSpotter — alerted police to the incident at about 11:32 a.m. The system’s notification helped direct officers quickly to the scene, where multiple patrol units and detectives conducted an immediate response.
Complex entrance blocked, residents shaken
By roughly 12:15 p.m., authorities had blocked the complex’s long, tree-lined entrance. Ten police vehicles lined the driveway and crime scene tape restricted access. Officers turned away residents attempting to enter, informing them the area was an active crime scene.
Residents described a tense midday disruption. A 49-year-old woman who asked to be identified only as Tracy, a resident of the complex, said she returned from a Riverside Hospital event to find the entrance blocked. She described surprise and concern that the shooting occurred during daylight hours.
“It’s crazy because it’s during the day,”
Tracy said there are many children who walk through the complex, and she took in a younger woman and two small children so they could escape the rain while officers worked. She and the other residents eventually left the area by walking through a footpath into the complex.
Investigation underway; authorities have released limited details
Police have not released the victims’ names, ages or the exact locations within the complex where they were struck. Detectives remained at the site into the afternoon, and officers used vehicles and tape to preserve the scene as investigators collected evidence and interviewed witnesses.
The department’s use of ShotSpotter highlights the role of technology in the initial response. Officials said the system detected the incident and prompted the police dispatch that brought officers to Heritage Forest.
- Time of shooting: about 11:32 a.m.
- Location: Heritage Forest Apartments, Marshall and Timber Drive, southeast Newport News
- Victims: one male deceased at hospital; one female critically wounded and hospitalized
Representatives from the Newport News Police Department did not immediately provide further information about suspects, possible motives or whether anyone had been detained. The department urged anyone with information or video of the incident to contact investigators to assist in the probe.
Incidents of gun violence in residential complexes raise concerns among neighbors and city leaders about public safety and the protection of children and families. As detectives continue their work at Heritage Forest, residents were left to absorb the shock of a violent episode in a community many consider quiet and residential.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Detection system | ShotSpotter alerted police |
| Response | Multiple NNPD units, detectives on scene |
| Scene status | Driveway blocked; crime scene tape; investigation ongoing |
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Newport News Police Department’s non-emergency number or Crime Line. As the investigation develops, officials said they will release additional details when appropriate.
