Two victims in triple Roanoke shooting are 7-year-old twins

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - Two boys hurt in a shooting Monday in Roanoke are 7-year-old twins, according to Commonwealth’s Attorney Don Caldwell.

Caldwell says police have a male suspect but have not released a name, and no one has been arrested or charges filed. The shooting stemmed from an issue with a stolen bicycle, according to Caldwell. The initial investigation reveals there was a fight on the block before the shooting happened.

It all happened just thirty minutes after Roanoke City’s Gun Violence Prevention Commission ended its workshop to bring down the number of shootings.

“I was really disheartened to read that [the shooting happened],” commissioner Joe Cobb said. “This was discouraging to me on a couple of fronts. We know there are fights, but in the middle of an argument, with children around, someone opened fire and that could have been really devastating for everybody.”

Cobb explained one goal is to focus prevention efforts in the northwest.

“I think we need to look economically outside of that and look at where we can increase employment opportunities and where we can increase investment,” Cobb said.

Roanoke City’s Commonwealth’s Attorney told WDBJ7 the children and a woman were hit with a bird shot from a shotgun. One of the boys was held in a hospital for observation, but all the injuries appear to be non-life-threatening.

“It has to be a call to us as members of this community, who want a beautiful and safe city, to think about our own responsibility in taking care of this city and keeping it safe and resolving conflicts differently,” Cobb said.

Police were called about 5:30 p.m. to the 1600 block of Salem Avenue SW Monday night.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call (540) 344-8500. You can also text 274637; begin the text with “RoanokePD” to ensure it’s properly sent. Calls and texts can remain anonymous.

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