Just after midnight on April 20, a ShotSpotter alert brought Virginia Beach police to the 6300 block of Bennington Road—where they arrested a man who had fired a gun in the neighborhood.
Officers responding to the alert found 55-year-old Robert Mack of Jersey City, New Jersey, at the scene. After speaking with him and conducting an investigation, police say Mack had fired a 9mm handgun.
He was taken into custody and is now facing two charges: Reckless Handling of a Firearm and Discharging a Firearm Within City Limits.
ShotSpotter, the gunfire detection system used by many cities across the country, has been a subject of debate. Critics argue it can lead to over-policing in certain areas, while supporters say it helps police respond more quickly to gun violence.
In this case, it led officers directly to an arrest.