A man who was injured in a triple shooting on Haygood Road last week is now facing multiple felony charges, according to Virginia Beach Police.
Officers were called to the 4700 block of Haygood Road on April 14 and found three people with gunshot wounds. All three were taken to nearby hospitals. Police say one of the injured, 36-year-old Eugene Martin of Virginia Beach, was later identified as a suspect in the shooting.
Five days later, on April 19, Martin was officially charged with a long list of serious offenses, including:
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Two counts of Aggravated Malicious Wounding
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Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony
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Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (2nd Offense)
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Shooting into an Occupied Dwelling
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Discharging a Firearm in Public
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Possession of a Firearm while Distributing or Possessing with Intent to Distribute a Schedule I or II Controlled Substance
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Possession of a Schedule I or II Substance with Intent to Distribute (3rd Offense)
In a statement, Police Chief Paul Neudigate pointed to a troubling pattern: “We are, once again, reporting on an incidence of gun violence involving a felon illegally possessing a firearm,” he said. “I can state unequivocally based on 35 years of policing that the number one precursor to shooting violence is felons in possession of firearms.”
Chief Neudigate urged community members to hold the justice system accountable: “If we truly want to be serious about reducing gun violence, I urge our community to send the message to our elected officials and all parts of the criminal justice system that we must treat these offenses with the seriousness they deserve and demand substantial penalties.”
The investigation is still active. Police have not released any additional details about the other victims or what led to the shooting.