VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Residents of Glenville Circle in Virginia Beach say they are contemplating moving after a man was shot and injured Monday afternoon in what they describe as an escalating pattern of crime linked to a missing section of private fencing.
The shooting has left neighbors living in fear, with some saying it represents the final straw in a series of safety concerns that began more than a year ago when a private fence was partially removed.
"I've lived here for 10-plus years and never had anything like gun violence in the neighborhood, and it probably solidifies it's time to move out of Virginia Beach," AJ Pawson said.
Virginia Beach
Man injured after shooting in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach police say the victim is in critical condition but did not release any other details including anything about a suspect.
Pawson and other residents trace their neighborhood's problems to January, when a section of private fencing separating their community from busy Kempsville Road was removed. The property owner was cited to replace or repair the fence and has replaced a section of the fencing, but neighbors say gaps remain.
The fence is located on private property, and there is no city code that requires fencing in that location.
"Around January 6th, there was a couple of drunk people ringing doorbells at 3 in the morning," Pawson said.
The missing barrier sections have created safety hazards for children in the community, residents say.
"We had a non-verbal autistic child wander onto Kempsville Road," Pawson said.
The child was not hurt, but neighbors say Monday's shooting represents the culmination of their safety concerns.
Residents offered to help repair the private fence when the property owner cited financial difficulties, but their offer was declined, Pawson said.
"We offered to help them repair the fence because of financial problems they couldn't afford it, and they turned it down," Pawson said.
Instead, neighbors received what they considered an unreasonable counter-proposal.
"Venmo request for about nine thousand each for a total of 36 thousand," Pawson said.
Attempts to reach the property owner where the fence is located were unsuccessful. Councilman David Hutcheson was also contacted about potential city solutions but did not respond.
