PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A dumpster fire in Portsmouth led to the discovery of a dead body Monday night, according to police.
Around 9 p.m., police say they got a call about a body that was discovered while a dumpster fire was being put out. The dumpster was on Bethel Worship Center Church's property, the pastor of the church confirmed to News 3.
Officers were sent to the church, located on Pepperwood Court. There, they confirmed that human remains were found.
Police say they're investigating the death as a homicide and they're working to identify the body.
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The pastor said they plan on helping the victim's family.
"This affects so much more than just the individuals involved. When something like this happens, families are involved. Even the people who commit the crime, they have to deal with it long term," says Herman Dixon, the pastor of Bethel Worship Center Church.
Dixon continued, "Those types of things... just they're senseless and they're painful. And so our hearts and prayers go out to the families involved."
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 757-393-8536 or the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
