On the night of September 12, 2024 a shooting near a bus servicing business in Suffolk, Virginia resulted in the deaths of two men and left three others seriously wounded. The crime occurred about 35 miles southeast of Virginia Beach, causing widespread shock in the local community.
At a press briefing on September 13, Suffolk Police Chief James Buie identified William Goodman Jr., 37, as the individual who was declared dead at the crime scene. Demonte Tillery, 30, succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
The Suffolk Police Department revealed that they received a 911 call about a shooting on East Washington Street shortly before 11:30 p.m. on the day of the incident. The police statement, as reported, indicated that five people had been shot upon the arrival of the officers. The Suffolk Fire & Rescue team also answered the call, providing immediate medical attention to the victims.
Besides the two deceased, three other victims, two men and a woman, were rushed to the hospital with serious injuries.
While the reason for the shooting remains unknown, no information has been released by police about the shooter or potential suspects. The location of the incident, close to a bus servicing business on East Washington Street, is not usually associated with such violent acts.
Despite having a higher crime rate than the national average – 23 crimes per 1,000 residents – Suffolk’s violent crime rate is particularly unsettling, with a one in 211 chance of residents falling victim to such acts. Furthermore, among cities of its size, Suffolk has one of the highest murder rates nationwide.
The Suffolk Police Department is actively pursuing the investigation and has requested the public’s assistance. The department has asked those with information about the incident to contact Suffolk Police or visit the Suffolk Police Department website to access the Suffolk Crime Line link.
Images from the crime scene depict a dump truck marked by bullet impacts with the driver’s side glass shattered. The truck, which bears the name “Good Guys Enterprise LLC,” belonged to the deceased, Goodman. Other vehicles were also targeted, and shell casings were found scattered around the area. A local resident estimated that dozens of rounds had been fired, comparing the scene to a war zone.
This incident follows another fatal shooting in Suffolk, Virginia that occurred the previous week. On September 9, Alvin Brown Jr., 24, was shot in the chest on the 6100 block of Old Townpoint Road and later died at the hospital.
