NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Two men are dead and another is in the hospital after what police described as a domestic shooting in Newport News Wednesday evening.
Around 7:20 p.m., police were called to 700 block 16th Street where they say they found three people who had been shot inside a house.
Thursday morning, the victims were identified as Tracey Williams, 54, and Dalontae Taylor, 25, both of the 700 block of 16th Street in Newport News.
Watch: Newport News Chief Steve Drew at the scene
“I think it was kind of a family argument," Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said Thursday afternoon.
One of the gunshot victims was pronounced dead at the scene, and two victims were transported to the hospital, according to Drew.
"It's just a horrible situation for a family to go through," Drew said at the scene Thursday night.
He also said he didn't know what the argument that is believed to have led to the shooting was about, but Thursday afternoon said police had "some good understanding" about what it was about.
According to Drew, Taylor and the person who was injured are brothers.
Williams is unrelated. He was dating Taylor's mother and, according to Drew, appears to have been the aggressor.
“Mr. Williams leaves for a short amount of time and then comes back. When he returns, the argument continues. He produces a firearm," Drew explained.
Drew further explained Williams fired multiple shots and Taylor shot back in self defense. Both men and Taylor’s brother were hit. As of Thursday, Taylor’s brother was still in the hospital.
“The female that lives next door, we were just talking and she was, like, ‘Chief, I just saw them the other day and had a casual conversation," Drew recalled. ":As she was talking to me, a tear rolled down her face. I put my hand on her shoulder and said ‘It’s okay.' She said 'It’s just senseless.' I can’t add anything to that. She’s exactly right.”
Thursday, family members of the victims were at the home where the shooting happened but didn't want to talk.
Neighbors News 3 spoke to also didn't want to talk.
Frankie Williams, who said he frequently rides his motorized wheelchair down 16th Street, says he's saddened to hear what happened.
"I just bowed down my head and prayed and asked the Lord to help that family," said Williams.
He was riding his wheelchair down the street at the time of the interview, but said he's now going to start taking a different route to get around.
"Could've been me," Williams said. "Could’ve been shooting at somebody else, missed them, and I could’ve caught the bullet."
Because the incident is domestic, police say, they aren't looking for suspects.
"From my experience this is a good neighborhood," Drew said. "We don't have many situations here. It's just an unfortunate, tragic incident over anger that went too far."
He added officers had responded to the home a few times going back to 2022, but not for domestic incidents.
