Virginia Beach officials are calling for urgent action after a chaotic exchange of gunfire along the crowded Oceanfront boardwalk Saturday night left eight people wounded in what police described as an impossibly fast escalation of violence that unfolded in just 12 seconds.
The shooting occurred at approximately 9:50 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, when officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation and reports of gunfire in the 1400 block of Atlantic Avenue. Homicide detectives determined that two unrelated groups of young adults and juveniles approached each other from opposite directions, an altercation erupted, and at least three individuals drew weapons and opened fire in the tourist-heavy corridor.
Officers discovered eight shooting victims scattered throughout the scene, all between ages 17 and 24. The wounded came from Portsmouth, Richmond, Lancaster, and Chesterfield in Virginia, plus one individual from Snellville, Georgia. All were rushed to local hospitals with injuries ranging from non-life-threatening to serious, though police confirmed each victim is expected to survive.
Despite having 90 officers deployed within a 10-block radius — more than were patrolling the rest of the city’s 247 square miles — police were unable to stop the violence. Police Chief Paul Neudigate noted the department had ramped up Oceanfront staffing since early March, ahead of the typical seasonal increase. During a Monday afternoon press conference, Neudigate emphasized the near-impossibility of intervention: “From the initial approach to punches being thrown to guns being pulled and shots fired, between the two groups, ladies and gentlemen, 12 seconds,” Neudigate said. “No one out there can de-escalate a conflict that goes from approach to gunfire in 12 seconds.”
Authorities arrested 18-year-old Jamya Williams of Henrico County at the scene. Williams herself was among the eight people shot, suffering a gunshot wound to her ankle. During questioning, Williams acknowledged firing a weapon during the incident, according to court documents.
Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators shows Williams on a sidewalk when a physical altercation erupted between two people in front of her. A criminal complaint states she then drew a handgun and started shooting. The video later shows Williams falling after being struck by gunfire. Officers recovered a .40-caliber handgun near where she collapsed, and investigators linked that weapon to two previous shooting incidents in Richmond.
Williams appeared virtually for her arraignment Monday morning in Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court facing five charges including reckless firearm use and assault. She faces multiple additional charges, including aggravated assault, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and violations of a protective order. She was also found to be illegally in possession of two firearms.
A second suspect, 18-year-old Isaiah Charity of Richmond, turned himself in to authorities. Charity faces 24 outstanding charges, including eight counts of aggravated malicious wounding, eight counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, and eight counts of reckless handling of a firearm causing injury, with one count corresponding to each person hurt.
A third suspect has not been identified. Police are searching for a Black male last observed wearing a dark-colored hoodie with possible red lettering on the back. Police also took 21-year-old Jahmari Savage of Chesapeake into custody on a concealed weapon charge after discovering him with a 9mm handgun, though police confirmed he was not involved in the shooting.
Mayor Bobby Dyer joined Neudigate at the Monday press conference to demand stronger enforcement tools and greater cooperation from state lawmakers. “The time is now for us to act, and we must act together,” Dyer said. “We must build the bridges that we need with the various entities that will put this together. It’s a national problem, it’s a local problem.” Dyer urged General Assembly members to participate in ride-alongs with Virginia Beach officers to gain firsthand insight into the department’s challenges.
The violence has shaken residents and business owners as the city enters its peak tourism season. Workers near the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier reported that the Saturday night gunfire caused some businesses to close early. A local resident expressed concern to reporters that the situation is harming Virginia Beach’s reputation as a family-friendly resort destination.
City officials had established a weekend curfew on March 12 that runs through the end of April, prohibiting unaccompanied minors from the Oceanfront between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. The department’s resources were further strained over the weekend by a separate incident at a Virginia Beach trampoline park involving hundreds of youths fighting and reports of guns.
Anyone with information, photographs, or video from the Oceanfront on the night of April 11 is asked to contact the Virginia Beach Police Department at 757-385-4101. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Solvers at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or through the P3Tips platform.