NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A dispute between a passenger and driver turned deadly, ending in car crash, Newport News Police said.
Police said the crash happened after the passenger shot the driver inside the vehicle when it was traveling on Warwick Boulevard, near J. Clyde Morris Boulevard. The crash happened near the campus of Christopher Newport University.
Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said in a press conference that two people were inside of the vehicle when a shooting occurred.
Chief Drew said the driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene and the passenger was taken into custody.
"Around 3:40 this afternoon, we got a call for shots fired," Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said. "One individual shot the driver of the vehicle. The vehicle was northbound on Warwick."
Chief Drew described the incident during a press conference.
"As [the car] travels across the median, it strikes the curb and turns around and flips," Drew said. "There is one individual who is deceased inside the floorboard. It appears to be an adult male who is African American."
Police said they recovered a gun from the vehicle.
Warwick Boulevard is a heavily traveled road. Chief Steve Drew said it was a blessing no one else was hit.
"To go across that median and not hit anyone, the Lord blessed us there," Drew said. "Because that could have been a tragedy."
Southbound traffic on Warwick Boulevard was closed for several hours.
There is no indication that any Christopher Newport University students were involved.
Police have not identified a motive nor the relationship between the driver and passenger.
Stay with News 3 for updates.
