Melrose residents voice shock at witnessing officer-involved shooting

By | December 6, 2023

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The Roanoke community is still reeling from witnessing a homicide that took place in front of them. Residents are expressing the traumatic impact of seeing a body on the sidewalk for hours before it was removed. Counseling services are being offered to help residents cope with the incident.

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ROANOKE, Va. – The Roanoke community is still trying to process what happened right in front of them on Sunday.

Residents said what they saw is something they can’t unsee.

“People need to realize that there is going to be mental issues from seeing that,” community member Janine Vanderberg said. “It’s not every day you watch a body lay on the sidewalk for four hours before they put the sheet over it and then they didn’t take him until 10:30 that night they did everything in front of us.”

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“It shakes everybody up you know; this is where we live, we want to be safe where we live,” another Melrose resident, Darla Campbell said.

Now, counseling is being offered to residents to help them work through it.

[Virginia State Police identify Roanoke homicide suspect shot, killed by officer]

“It was a difficult situation for our residents to witness and see and just trying to be supportive as far as being there for them and providing our services that we provide and then continuing to support them throughout this coming time,” Greg Goodman, Director of Community Support Services for Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority said.

Residents witnessed the shots firsthand.

“I heard the gunshots, I didn’t see much of nothing, but they left the body of the curb for hours and hours before they ever covered it up and that was a nasty sick scene,” Campbell said.

Residents told 10 News that they’d typically be sitting and hanging out where the suspect’s dead body was. They said they are thankful it was cold outside or else a lot of innocent people could have been hurt.

Copyright 2023 by WSLS 10 – All rights reserved.

The Roanoke community in Virginia is still in shock after a disturbing incident that occurred on Sunday. Residents are struggling to process what they witnessed right in front of them. The incident has left a lasting impact on the community, with many saying they cannot unsee what they saw.

According to witnesses, a body lay on the sidewalk for four hours before it was covered with a sheet. The body was not removed until 10:30 that night, leaving residents disturbed and shaken. Janine Vanderberg, a community member, emphasized the mental toll that such an experience can have on individuals, stating that it is not something one sees every day.

Darla Campbell, another resident of the Melrose community where the incident occurred, expressed her concern about the safety of the neighborhood. She highlighted the impact it had on everyone, as they want to feel secure in their own homes.

In response to the traumatic event, counseling services are being offered to residents to help them cope and work through their emotions. Greg Goodman, Director of Community Support Services for Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority, expressed the importance of supporting residents during this difficult time.

Residents who were present during the incident recounted hearing gunshots and witnessing the aftermath firsthand. They expressed gratitude that the weather was cold, as it deterred people from gathering in the area where the body was left.

The incident has left a deep mark on the Roanoke community, prompting discussions about safety and the need for support services in times of crisis. The community is coming together to heal and support one another through this challenging experience.

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Kelly Marsh said Melrose residents speak out about witnessing officer-involved shooting