VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - A Virginia Beach man was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and malicious assault after allegedly killing his mother, then attempting to escape police at the Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital.
According to the Virginia Beach Police Department, on October 16, officers were called to the 2400 block of Loran Court for a welfare check. When they arrived, they found 74-year-old Linda Christie dead and her son, 38-year-old Matthew Christie, with serious injuries.
Christie was taken to the hospital for treatment of his injuries, and after an investigation by the VBPD Detective Bureau, he was charged with first-degree murder and malicious assault.
A neighbor of Linda Christie who did not want to be identified tells us she had big heart.
"You’d want her for a neighbor. She was the best neighbor. She was sweet and thoughtful. She was always smiling and she would help you if you needed anything or any advice."
She says Linda Christie had a bright sense of humor.
"I knew her from when she worked at the dentist's office, so we go way back. You'd always laugh when you were around her. She had funny things to say."
On October 22, an officer responded to the hospital to take Christie into custody. Christie ran from the officer, who caught up to him in a hospital stairwell, and an "extensive" struggle ensued.
Christie allegedly attempted to disarm the officer, resulting in the officer's handgun discharging. Christie was then restrained and taken into custody, with no injuries reported to the officer or any other individuals.
An active shooter alert was initially called at the hospital due to the gunshot but was canceled.
Additional charges are pending against Christie in connection to this incident.
If you or someone you know has information in this case that could help police, call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
— Virginia Beach PD (@VBPD) October 23, 2021
