On Thursday, September 12, 2024, two men were killed and three others seriously injured in a late-night shooting near a bus servicing business in Suffolk, Virginia. The incident, which occurred around 35 miles southeast of Virginia Beach, has deeply affected the local community.
The victims were identified in a press conference held by Suffolk Police Chief James Buie on the afternoon of September 13. He confirmed that William Goodman Jr., a 37-year-old businessman, was pronounced dead at the scene, while 30-year-old Demonte Tillery succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
According to Suffolk Police Department, a distress call reporting a shooting on East Washington Street was received just before 11:30 p.m. on Thursday. The police statement said, “Arriving officers reported finding five people shot.” The Suffolk Fire & Rescue team also responded and provided immediate medical aid to the victims.
Besides the fatalities, three other victims, two men and a woman, were transported to the hospital for treatments for their serious injuries. According to Chief Buie, they are expected to survive.
The exact reason behind the shooting remains unknown. The police have yet to disclose any information about the shooter or potential suspects. The incident site, near a bus servicing business previously known as the H.M. White Bus Service on East Washington Street, is not generally associated with such violent crimes.
However, Suffolk, Virginia does have a higher crime rate than the national average, with 23 crimes per 1,000 residents. Specifically, the city’s violent crime rate is particularly high, giving residents a 1 in 211 chance of becoming a victim. Additionally, Suffolk has one of the highest murder rates in the country for cities of its size.
The Suffolk Police Department is calling on the public for help with the ongoing investigation. They have asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Suffolk Police or visit the Suffolk Police Department website (www.suffolkva.us/spd) and click on the Suffolk Crime Line link.
Images from the crime scene show a dump truck riddled with bullet holes and shattered driver’s side glass. The truck, belonging to Goodman’s business, Good Guys Enterprise LLC, was one of several vehicles targeted. Shell casings littered the area and a local resident estimated that dozens of rounds were fired, making the scene resemble a war zone.
This incident follows another fatal shooting in Suffolk on Monday, September 9. Just after 2 p.m., 24-year-old Alvin Brown Jr. was shot in the chest on the 6100 block of Old Townpoint Road and later died from his injuries in the hospital.
