If you've been following the news lately, you probably know that "Newport News" and "gun violence" have been linked in some pretty heavy ways over the last few years. It’s a complicated story. It isn't just about crime stats or police blotters; it's about a community trying to figure out how to stop the bleeding while the rest of the world watches. Honestly, when most people search for a shooting in newport news virginia, they are usually looking for one of two things: an update on the latest tragic incident or the long-term fallout from the Richneck Elementary disaster.
But there’s a massive shift happening right now that isn't getting as many headlines. While the tragedies are real, the city is actually reporting some of its lowest numbers in years. It’s a weird, tense balance. You have these horrific singular events that stay in your brain forever, contrasted against a data-driven "momentum" that suggests things might actually be getting better. Let's get into what’s actually going on in the 757.
The Richneck Shadow: Three Years Later
It is impossible to talk about any shooting in newport news virginia without addressing what happened on January 6, 2023. We’re officially three years past the day a six-year-old boy shot his teacher, Abby Zwerner, in her first-grade classroom. It sounds like a horror movie plot, but for the families in Newport News, it was a Tuesday.
The updates in 2026 are still rolling in because the legal system moves like molasses. Just this month, we’ve seen the civil side of things reach a massive milestone. Zwerner was recently awarded $10 million in a lawsuit against the school system. The jury essentially agreed that the administration—specifically former assistant principal Dr. Ebony Parker—dropped the ball in a big way. Teachers had warned the office four times that the kid might have a gun. They even searched his backpack and found nothing, but he had the 9mm on his person.
Dr. Parker is still facing eight counts of felony child neglect. If she’s convicted in her upcoming trial, she’ll be the first school administrator in the country to be held criminally responsible for a school shooting. This case changed the national conversation about "sovereign immunity" and how much we can actually blame the people in charge when things go south.
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Recent Incidents and the 2026 Reality
Even with the big cases taking up the oxygen, smaller incidents still pop up on the police scanner every week. Just last night, January 17, 2026, police were called to the 15500 block of Warwick Boulevard. They found a man with a gunshot wound just after 10:00 p.m. It didn't make the national news. It was just another Saturday night in the North End.
Earlier this week, the Newport News Police Department (NNPD) also announced an arrest in a cold case from 2023—a deadly shooting at the King’s Ridge Apartments. They caught 35-year-old Gary Terrell Mack for the murder of Phillip Dewayne Murphy Jr.
Why does this matter? Because it shows a shift in how the NNPD is working. They aren't just reacting; they’re closing cases. Chief Steve Drew has been pretty vocal about the fact that "clearance rates" (that's cop-speak for solving the crime) are up. In 2023, they were clearing about 62% of homicides. By the start of 2026, that number has stabilized, even as the raw number of shootings fluctuates.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Stats
If you look at the headlines, you’d think the city is in a tailspin. But the data tells a much more nuanced story. Basically, Newport News is currently seeing a "tale of two cities" situation when it comes to violence.
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- The Good News: According to the "Momentum for Peace" plan released by Mayor Phillip Jones this January, homicides and non-fatal shootings dropped by a staggering 47% between 2024 and the end of 2025.
- The Bad News: While overall numbers are down, youth involvement is still terrifyingly high. In late 2025, reports surfaced showing a 250% increase in child shooting victims compared to the previous year.
It’s a gut-punch. How can a city be "safer" overall while more kids are getting caught in the crossfire? Chief Drew argues these aren't "systemic" in the sense of a gang war, but rather isolated, tragic accidents or personal disputes that escalate because a gun was too easy to find.
The "Momentum for Peace" Strategy
The city just launched its first-ever Comprehensive Community Safety Plan. They’re calling it "Momentum for Peace." It’s not just about hiring more cops. In fact, the city has dumped over $3.1 million into grassroots groups since 2023. We’re talking about places like "Boxing 2 Live" and "Ketchmore Kids"—programs designed to give teenagers something to do other than hang out on a corner with a 40-ounce and a Glock.
Newport News was even picked for the 2026 "Leading the Way Tour" by Cities United. They’re the only city in Virginia on the list. It’s a bit of a flex, honestly. It means national experts think Newport News is actually onto something with this "public health approach" to violence. Instead of just treating a shooting in newport news virginia as a crime, they’re treating it like a disease that needs to be prevented at the source.
Why the 757 is Different
Newport News is a shipyard town. It’s tough, industrial, and diverse. But it’s also part of the "Hampton Roads Four"—alongside Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Hampton—which historically account for a huge chunk of Virginia’s gun violence.
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A December 2025 report from the state’s Joint Legislative Audit and Research Committee pointed out a massive disparity. Even though Newport News has higher gun homicide rates than places like Roanoke, they only received about 2% of state program funds, while Roanoke got 9%. The city is basically fighting this battle with one hand tied behind its back.
What to Do If You're Worried
If you live in the area or are thinking about moving here, don't let the scary headlines totally dictate your view. Newport News is a huge city. The violence is often concentrated in very specific blocks, and the city's new "Pillars of Violence Prevention" are starting to make a dent in those "hot spots."
Actionable Steps for Residents:
- Use the NNPD Dashboard: The city has a live crime map. If you want to know what happened last night on your street, check the NNPD Daily Incident report. It’s transparent and updated constantly.
- Get Involved with Youth T.H.R.I.V.E.: This is the city’s flagship program for at-risk kids. If you have a teenager or know one who needs a mentor, this is the place to start.
- Secure Your Firearm: A huge portion of the recent youth shootings were "accidental" or involved stolen guns from cars. In Virginia, "tough on crime" now includes holding parents accountable if their kid gets a hold of their weapon—just ask Deja Taylor, the mother of the Richneck shooter, who is currently serving time.
- Report, Don't Just Post: There’s a trend of people posting Ring camera footage to Facebook or Nextdoor without calling the cops. If you hear shots, call it in. The city uses technology like ShotSpotter (or similar acoustic sensors) to track gunfire, but human witnesses are what actually close cases.
The story of the shooting in newport news virginia is still being written. It’s a mix of tragic history and a very hopeful, data-backed future. We aren't out of the woods yet, but for the first time in a decade, the numbers are actually moving in the right direction.
Stay vigilant, keep your eyes on the court cases in May, and let’s hope the "Momentum for Peace" isn't just a catchy slogan.