NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk Police say a suspect is in custody after a possible domestic-related fatal shooting that left three women dead and two other women injured Wednesday evening.
On Thursday morning the suspect was identified as 19-year-old Ziontay Brian Ricardo Palmer.
The Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney office said he was arraigned Thursday morning on three counts of second-degree murder, two count of malicious wounding and five counts of use of a firearm in commission of a felony.
Police responded to the 800 block of Whitaker Lane after reports of a shooting around 6 p.m.
When officers arrived, they found three women who were pronounced dead at the scene. They have been identified as 42-year-old Detra Brown, 45-year-old Nicole Lovewine and 44-year-old Sara Costine.
A 39-year-old woman and a 19-year-old woman were transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. Both women are expected to recover from their injuries, according to police.
Norfolk Police Chief Boone told News 3 that the shooting appears to be domestic-related. He says when the suspect shot the first woman, he ran and left the scene. Boone says the suspect came back and shot the other women as they were trying to render aid.
Boone says the shooting took place outside.
News 3 sent two crews to the scene. One man told us his cousin and her girlfriend were shot and killed, but they weren't involved in the domestic situation.
He said his cousin was in her early 40s.
Not many neighbors wanted to speak in light of the situation, but those who did told us they are concerned about the gun violence.
One woman said one of her daughters was one of the women who was shot and taken to the hospital for treatment. She said her daughter is expected to survive.
Community activist Bilal Muhammad with Stop the Violence told us he and others were planning a community forum on violence when they got the call about this incident. The forum is coming up on Nov. 13.
Around 10:30 p.m., police said the suspect Palmer was taken into custody.
Palmer's preliminary hearing is set for January 11 at 11 a.m.
#Update. The suspect in this shooting has been taken into custody. More details to follow when available. https://t.co/B72HTP8fYL
— Norfolk Police Dept (@NorfolkPD) November 4, 2021
We'll continue to have live updates online and on air on News 3 at 4:30 Thursday morning.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence and need help right away, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 and ask to be directed to resources in your neighborhood, or find a shelter and emergencyhelp near you. For Hampton Roads residents, you can contact the Samaritan House or click here for a list of resources by region.
