PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — A store clerk in Portsmouth had a front-row seat to Sunday’s double shooting at a business on Towne Point Road in which two people were injured and a man who police say was the shooter has been arrested.

According to officials, on Tuesday, Raquan Delvonta Avery, 19, was arrested at his County Street home and charged with one count of aggravated malicious wounding, shooting within a building, malicious shooting, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a concealed weapon.

On Sunday, around 9:15 a.m., officers were dispatched to a shopping center in the 3500 block of Towne Point Road for reports of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found two men suffering from life-threatening gunshot wounds. Both victims are said to be in stable condition.

It happened so quickly, the clerk said she saw very little of what happened, as she was too busy running to the back of the store, grabbing her child and getting out.

The shop clerk, who asked not to be identified, said she spoke with Avery briefly after he walked into the Smoke Guyz vape shop.

“He was talking to me, but I am facing the vapes,” she said. “Like, he was talking to me, and I am like, ‘You are asking me about a vape?'”

Thirty seconds after Avery went inside the business, two men also come inside, one wearing brown and the other wearing blue.

Portsmouth Police said detectives obtained video footage of the shooting and saw Avery, 19, go inside the business, followed by the two victims, with a physical altercation taking place between a 17-year-old teen boy and Avery.

During the altercation, police said Avery shot the teen and an 18-year-old man, and as Avery left the scene, he fired a shot at the 18-year-old again as he crawled away, with footage also showing Avery leaving the scene in a green, two-door Acura.

Store video showed a person with a brown hoodie attacking Avery from behind by pulling his feet out as Avery was speaking to the clerk.

Avery fell to the floor, and though the store owner did not give permission for 10 On Your Side to show the store video, 10 On Your Side was able to view it.

It showed that, after a short tussle on the ground, Avery allegedly pulled a gun and shot both men, who are now on the ground, and, as he’s leaving the store, video shows Avery shoot the man in blue a second time after he’s already seriously wounded.

The clerk thought Avery was actually the victim in the beginning of the incident.

“The shooter, he was the victim,” the store clerk said. “Like, he was talking to me. He wasn’t bothering anybody. I am just saying, he was trying to get a vape and they came from out of nowhere. I don’t know why they did, but he was a victim. If someone comes up from behind like that, you got to defend yourself, especially if someone pulls your legs out from behind. That’s crazy and scary.”

Police did not charge Avery for the first shooting because it was self-defense, but he was charged in the second shooting of the second man.

Police said they found the Acura Monday at a residence in the 1900 block of County Street, and as officers made contact with people at the residence, they tried to leave on foot, but they were all taken into custody.

A juvenile was arrested and charged with underaged possession of a handgun and possession of a stolen handgun, according to police, who said detectives got a search warrant for the residence and seized the suspect vehicle. Police said numerous firearms, along with evidence from the shooting, were recovered.

The material facts in the court paperwork state that “the suspect took off in a dark green Acura, on 2/24/2025, Detective Lambert was alerted (Flock) that the vehicle involved in the shooting on 2/23/2025 was in the area of County Street. Detective Lambert found the vehicle behind 1916 County Street. Detective Brumfield observed 2 males wearing all black and wearing black ski mask flee from the vehicle. One suspect was taken into custody with a firearm and the other suspect went into 1916 County Street. After a short standoff the suspect came outside and surrounded the police. During a sweep of the vehicle and house several firearms were observed and officers converged on scene.” 

Court documents below outline what police said they found:

Police said Avery was interviewed and arrested on outstanding charges for an unrelated shooting in Chesapeake.

Police continue to investigate the shooting and ask that anyone with information about it contact the Portsmouth Police Investigations Bureau at 757-393-8536, or call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.