NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Newport News Police are investigating a shooting that occurred on Jefferson Avenue overnight.
According to officials, around 1 a.m. Monday morning, officers were dispatched to the 13000 block of Jefferson Avenue for reports of a shooting.
Officers arrived to the scene and found a male victim inside of a business suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. The victim was then taken to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries.
Photos from the scene show a heavy police presence blocking off the parking lot in the Jefferson Shoppes business plaza. Police had crime tape around the entire building, focusing on Charcoal Chicken & Wings. Our team counted nearly a dozen bullet holes on their storefront.
The owner of Charcoal Chicken & Wings did not want to appear on camera, but spoke with 10 On Your Side about the shooting. The owner said he and his staff were not hurt. He told us the shooting happened outside his restaurant. Police said when they showed up, they found an adult male victim inside a business.
There was a white SUV parked outside with a bullet hole next to the gas door, which was later towed away from the parking lot.
A food delivery driver was sent here for an order at the chicken shop. The driver could not complete the order, seeing several shell casings on the parking lot next to evidence markers along with clothing on the ground.
“I just can’t go anywhere anymore without a shooting, and it’s just sad, it’s really sad,” Patricia said. “I guess that I wish they would use that energy towards positive and not negative because they’re, they getting younger and younger.”
Charcoal Chicken & Wings is normally a 24-hour business, but this shooting caused them to temporarily close the store. The owner spent his morning cleaning up the mess, with hopes to re-open later in the day.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing.
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.