What started as a ShotSpotter alert early on April 27 has now led to multiple felony arrests tied to a burst of gunfire near the heart of Virginia Beach’s Oceanfront during spring break weekend.
Just after 3 a.m., Virginia Beach police responded to reports of shots fired at the intersection of 23rd Street and Atlantic Avenue—an area dense with late-night activity. Officers confirmed that gunfire had occurred, though thankfully no injuries were reported. But as the investigation unfolded, the scope of the incident became clearer—and more alarming.
Police have arrested three men, all from the Peninsula, in connection with the shooting:
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Nashun Simmons, 23, of Hampton, faces a long list of charges: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, having a concealed firearm (2nd offense), possession of a trigger switch (known as a “switch activator”), destruction of property, reckless firearm handling, shooting in public, and use of a machine gun.
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Jay’nod Harvey, 22, of Newport News, was charged with firearm possession by a felon, possession of a trigger activator, wearing a mask in public while committing a felony, lying to police, and unlawful possession of an extended magazine.
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Mark Aranjo, 23, also from Hampton, is charged with possession of a switch activator and using a machine gun.
Altogether, police say they seized three firearms—one fitted with both a switch activator and an extended magazine, devices that can convert handguns into fully automatic weapons.
The arrests raise new questions about the type of firepower showing up at large gatherings, particularly during tourism-heavy weekends. As Virginia Beach continues to navigate the balance between public safety and its booming spring break season, the department says its priority remains “getting illegal guns off the streets before they’re used to kill.”