PORTSMOUTH, Va. - Portsmouth Police are looking for a suspect in relation to a homicide that happened Friday afternoon.
Officers responded to the 1100 block of Virginia Avenue around 1:34 p.m.
Once on scene, they found a 26-year-old woman suffering from a fatal gunshot wound. She has been identified as Shakera Lanae Hines, and her family has been notified of her death.
Investigators later released surveillance photos of an unknown suspect who appears to be an adult Black male wearing all black clothing, a black face mask and a crossbody bag with green lettering.
The unknown suspect was observed on CCTV footage walking southbound on Virginia Avenue, near the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Portland Street. Video captured the suspect in the area just prior to the reported incident.
Darrell Redmond, a community activist and founder of Give Back to Da Block, says shootings in the neighborhood he grew up in is personal to him.
"I was raised out in London Oaks, and it hits very near and dear to home. Directly where this incident happened is right behind my mother’s house," Redmond tells News 3 reporter Leondra Head.
London Oaks has seen its fair share in crime in recent years. At least six shootings have happened on Virginia Avenue in London Oaks in the last two years.
"People are becoming desensitized. They are desensitized to the situation because things that are abnormal have become normal," Redmond said.
Redmond says he sees young kids who have become desensitized to gun violence.
"It speaks to the code that they are not scared. When we’re dealing with a sense of community, we have to take responsibility for things that’s happening inside our community," Redmond said.
Residents we spoke to in London Oaks say they are saddened to learn about another shooting in their neighborhood.
If you have information about this suspect, you are asked to take action and call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (1-888-562-5887) or submit a tip using the P3Tips app.
