Petersburg car vandalism began with gunshots
MICHAEL MARTZ
The smashing of car windows took place just east of the Lee Park area, in the Walnut Hill neighborhood.
PETERSBURG—Police say three men ran out of bullets after shooting the windows of two parked cars in an overnight vandalism spree, so they smashed the windows of more than 40 other vehicles with rocks and other objects.
Police arrested three North Carolina men for the vandalism.
No injuries were reported, Petersburg police spokeswoman Esther Hyatt said.
Hyatt said it appeared that 45 vehicles were struck by the vandalism, which began about 1:15 a.m. with calls of shots fired and left most vehicles with damage to rear and driver’s side windows.
If residents discover that their vehicle was hit in the overnight vandalism, they should call the Petersburg police non-emergency number, (804) 732-4222, and get a case number that has been assigned to them, police said.
Hyatt said the three men arrested were still being processed, and the exact charges were not immediately available.
She identified the three as Lemar Spencer, 26, of High Point; and Michael Lunsford, 26, and Kenneth Isley, 21, both of Greensboro.
The vandalism occurred just east of the Lee Park area, in the Walnut Hill neighborhood.
Hyatt said the vandalism began in the 1700 block of Varina Street before spreading to Brandon Avenue, Johnson Road and Hampton Road and ending with the arrests of the three suspects in a dark-colored sport utility vehicle on Northampton Road, where a number of vehicles were struck in the 700 to 900 blocks.
In the 700 block of Northampton, Dewayne Nichols awoke this morning to find that the rear windows of his Toyota Prius and his wife’s Ford Mustang had been smashed overnight.
Nichols said he was tired after returning from a wedding in Alabama and slept through the night without hearing anything but barking dogs.
He shook his head when told all three suspects were in their 20s.
“I can understand a 16-year-old and how it would be entertaining to a 16-year-old,” Nichols said, “but not a grown man.”
Reader Reactions
I wasn’t close to the family but I went to school with Michael and he is originally from this area. So I think he was just up here visiting family. I don’t think they drove all the way up here just to vandelize some cars. Still don’t understand why. Definitely distrurbing though.
This is an awful crime.These guys should serve jail time.
“Or, let’s do like every liberal idiot does and blame everyone but the perpetrator.“
...are ya ready for this….
I’m a liberal and I certainly think people should be held accountable for their own actions. Way to go with the sweeping generalizations. That would be like me saying all conservatives are repressed, uptight Christians huh?
People did hear the windows being broken. My neighbor heard mine get shattered and called the police. The police told him they were receiving reports from multiple streets regarding the same thing, so clearly people were hearing it. Kudos to the Petg Police for catching the guys.
I agree with Dewayne Nichols’ comment. These aren’t 16 year-olds. And thrill seekers do one or two cars, not 45.
What kind of morons stay in the same neighborhood long enough to damage 45 cars? You have to be some kind of extra special stupid for that kind of nonsense. Did they think they’d get away with it all night without anyone noticing? “Hey Lemar, when we finish with this street let’s go one street over and so the cops can’t find us.“ “That sounds good Michael, but you know, I can’t help but think that I wouldn’t be doing this if there were some sort of rec facility built around here and it was open at 2am. Also, I’m an idiot. Please punch me in the face repeatedly.“ Gladly.
Wake up Mai Tai. Bad people are bad people, let’s not go making excuses for them. Or, let’s do like every liberal idiot does and blame everyone but the perpetrator. I blame your poor parenting Mai Tai. There. Now I’m a New American. Can I have my bailout and universal health care, now?
Radiohead- “When I am king you will be first against the wall.“
Wretch.
Rather than locking them up they should be forced to work some crappy 40+ hr/week job to earn the money to repair all of those cars. Jails are already overcrowded and don’t need 3 more morons in there.
You mean these young hoodlums had to drive a hundred miles or so to shoot out or break some car windows. I don’t think they are going to like their new residence here in Virginia.
It’s time to get tough with these vandals , this was going on in the maymont/byrd park area and the shooters were never caught.I also remember last year vandals in twin hickory area were shooting cars then decided to pop a few citizens ,they were caught but it was decribed as horseplay .
Yeah, its definitely more than just idle hands. I had a lot at my disposal when a kid, yet I did enjoy my pranks—(such as sneaking up to people’s windows, yelling real loud just to watch ‘em jump 5 feet above their chairs, stuff like that), but breaking windows & smashing objects that’s a whole lot of rage there. Much anger that hasn’t been addressed. Their hands might be idle, but their heads are full of turmoil.
Vandalism is so ignorant - it definitely says a lot about the perps., their upbringing (or lack thereof) and their respect (of which there is none).
This isn’t about “idle hands”...this is just plain evil. I don’t like throwing folks in jail, but….destroying others property is an offense that can not be tolerated.
Lock these folks up and throw away the key…at least for awhile.
Make sure they repay everyone!
Excuse me if I misread this article, but I am sure it says that the offenders ran out of ammunition after shooting the windows out of only 2 vehicles. The other 43 vehicle windows were damaged by the use of blunt objects, rocks, bricks, asphalt pieces, etc. Even though the majority of the damage was made by the impact from a blunt object, it does amaze me that not one individual heard a thing. If a dog’s barking is louder than the sounds of multiple windows shattering, that must have been a pretty loud dog!
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