VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Three people have been arrested in connection to a shooting in Virginia Beach that left an 8-year-old boy seriously injured.
On Feb. 13, Landyn Davis was playing video games in his home on Peele Court when a stray bullet struck him in the head, police say. He was put in a medically induced coma, and finally opened his eyes again about a week later.
"It's the greatest thing I can hear, I'm so happy because there's justice for my son and they're off the streets," Steven Davis, Landyn's dad, said.
Virginia Beach
Parents of 8-year-old shot in Virginia Beach talk about him waking up
After spending about four weeks investigating, Virginia Beach police say they’ve made three arrests in connection to the shooting.
The following suspects have been arrested, according to police:
- Toriyon Cook, a 21-year-old man from Chesapeake
- Jerry Davis, a 24-year-old man from Chesapeake
- Jakyra Epperson, a 21-year-old woman from Norfolk
During a press conference on Friday, VBPD Chief Paul Neudigate said the Davis family was not targeted. VBPD believes someone outside was the intended target, Chief Neudigate said.
Chief Neudigate said VBPD believes there are still people involved in this shooting that need to be held responsible.
A task force was created to work on this case with at times had 30 to 40 different officers working on all aspects of the case.
"Every homicide that occurs in the City of Virginia Beach obviously is a priority but when we have an 8-year-old male who is playing video games in his residence, it tugs at the heartstrings a little bit more," Chief Neudigate said.
Capt. Scott Merce, said evidence submitted via an digital evidence portal helped in making arrests with this case.
Cook and Davis are both facing the following charges, according to police: felony aggravated malicious wounding, felony use of a firearm, felony conspiracy, and 24 counts of felony maliciously discharge a firearm into a dwelling.
"I think the severity of this incident warrants what we were able to procure if convicted on all accounts potentially up to 240 years of prison for each of those two individuals," Chief Neudigate said.
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Epperson has been charged with the following, according to police: felony attempt to conceal/destroy evidence and felony conspiracy to conceal/destroy evidence. Police say she was arrested on Feb. 14, a day after the shooting.
Davis and Cook are both due in court on March 21 at 9 a.m.
Epperson was denied bond and had a hearing set for April 26.
As Landyn continues to recover in the hospital, his dad hopes his son gets the justice he deserves.
"It could be anybody's child and they shouldn't have to go through this for no reason at all," Davis said. "I want them to be punished to the maximum that they can get because you all really interrupted our life, our livelihood, and possibly could have taken away the dreams of my son."
