Location: 900 block of Thousand Oaks Drive, Virginia Beach VA
Time: November 10, 2025 – 5:25 p.m.
A fatal shooting in the 900 block of Thousand Oaks Drive resulted in the swift arrest of a suspect, thanks to rapid investigative work and advanced technology used by the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD).
Officers responded to a call received by Emergency Communications and Citizen Services (ECCS) regarding a person suffering from a gunshot wound. Upon arrival, they discovered 34-year-old Markel Alexander Cephas of Chester, Virginia, who was pronounced dead at the scene from his injuries.
VBPD detectives quickly launched an investigation and, using tools such as Flock Safety License Plate Readers and other technology, identified Roberto Amir Inniss, 19, of Newport News as the prime suspect. With help from the Chesapeake Police Department, Inniss was apprehended less than nine hours after the shooting occurred.
Inniss now faces charges of murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
VBPD Chief Paul W. Neudigate praised the fast resolution, stating, “The integration of real-time data and advanced technology, coupled with the great work of our detectives, was absolutely instrumental in the swift apprehension of the suspect.”
The case remains under investigation by the VBPD Detective Bureau. Anyone with additional information is urged to contact VBPD at (757) 385-4101.