NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Newport News Police are still trying to piece together what led to a triple shooting early Sunday morning inside a Newport News apartment in which two people died and another was seriously injured.
Police said they are investigating a homicide in connection to a shooting inside an apartment on Gloucester Drive that took place around 2:30 a.m.
“Nothing takes the place of a loss of life,” said Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew during a Monday news conference. “Those individuals matter to me. Their families matter to me.”
The two men who died from their injuries have been identified as Jesus Hamilton, 23, of Hampton and Jude Dorfeuil, 26, of Yorktown. Hamilton died at the scene; Dorfeuil died at the hospital. Another man who was shot is in stable condition.
Drew said a preliminary investigation indicates that the victims knew each other, and that it was not a random act of violence, but rather, an isolated incident that revolved around illegal substances and firearms.
“I don’t want the community to think there’s just individuals running around the city doing these violent acts,” Drew said. “We believe that there’s acquaintances or known individuals. We’re still trying to piece some of that together.”
Police have not released any suspect information at this time.
“This was a very, very direct situation that occurred of what was going on inside that apartment,” Drew said.
This shooting happened around the corner from where a 17-year-old was shot and killed in September. Drew said investigators believe the two cases to be unrelated.
Also, he said that so far in 2024, there has been a 50% reduction in homicides, and a 30% reduction in non-fatal shootings from a year ago. That’s after police said 2023 was the deadliest in Newport News in several decades, with 45 homicides.
Drew said at the time that the city had seen a drop in homicides since August 2023.
“Those data points are people, communities and neighborhoods, and they matter to me,” Drew said.
Marcus Cooper lives in the neighborhood and had a message for those thinking about picking up a firearm.
“Never use guns,” Cooper said. “Trust me, it’s not the best way to go. If you ever know you don’t like somebody, you just settle it with your hands. It’s nothing really. Gun-like killing is worthless. You feel me? [There’s] no point in that. Trust me.”
If you have any information about this case, you can submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-888-LOCK-U-UP, downloading the P3 tips app to a mobile device, or visiting www.P3tips.com and submitting a tip.