Staff Report – Five individuals were taken into police custody today and at least two have been charged with crimes after a female in a vehicle near Treherneville was shot in the arm and the suspects led police on a high-speed chase, according to a press release from Northampton County Sheriff David Doughty.
At approximately 9:57 a.m., the sheriff’s office received a 911 call reporting that a female in a vehicle had been shot in the arm in the Treherneville area and was still being followed by the vehicle of the suspects.
The vehicle occupied by the victim was driven to Royal Farms in Exmore and met by police officers. Soon after, deputies located the suspect vehicle just north of Exmore, and a pursuit ensued.
Police pursued the vehicle south on Bayside Road for several miles at high speeds. The suspect vehicle ran off the road near Sylvan Scene Drive. Three of the four suspects exited the vehicle and ran.
Deputies removed the remaining suspect, a 17-year-old male, from the vehicle. Shortly thereafter, one of the three suspects who fled on foot, Malik Johnson, 23, of Exmore, was apprehended in a nearby wooded area.
An Accomack County Sheriff’s Office K-9 tracked the other two suspects to a Treherneville residence. After a brief stand-off, the two suspects and a fifth individual were apprehended without incident. Two of the three individuals taken into police custody in Treherneville were juveniles.
The Exmore, Eastville, and Cape Charles police departments and the Virginia State Police, Virginia Marine Police, and Virginia Conservation Police also assisted.
The 17-year-old who was removed from the suspect vehicle is being held at the Norfolk Juvenile Detention Center with bond denied. He is charged with underaged possession of a firearm by a minor, maliciously shooting into an occupied vehicle, and malicious wounding by mob.
Johnson is being held at the Eastern Shore Regional Jail, also with bond denied. He is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, maliciously shooting into an occupied vehicle, and malicious wounding by mob.
The female victim was transported to Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital and was released with injuries that were not life-threatening.
The NCSO investigation is ongoing and anyone with information on the incident can anonymously submit a tip by calling 757-678-0458 or using the Tip 411 app.
