Crime
Two Virginia Beach Police Officers Killed in Late-Night Shooting Following Traffic Stop
Virginia Beach, VA – Two Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) officers were fatally shot late Friday night following a traffic stop, the department confirmed.
According to police, the incident began around 11:30 p.m. near the intersection of Lynnhaven Parkway and Wendfield Drive when officers conducted a routine traffic stop.
During the encounter, gunfire erupted, leaving one officer dead at the scene and another critically wounded.
The second officer, who was rushed to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries, succumbed to those injuries early Saturday morning.
In a statement posted on social media, VBPD expressed their profound grief, stating, “We are devastated to confirm the deaths of two of our officers, who were shot in the line of duty late last night.”
The department has not yet released information regarding any potential suspects but assured the public that there is no perceived ongoing threat.
The Virginia Beach Police Department is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Additional details, including the identities of the fallen officers and the suspect, have not yet been released.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact Virginia Beach Crime Solvers at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (1-888-562-5887) or submit an anonymous tip online.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.