Rocky Mount Police Arrest Two Suspects in Monday Shooting Death
News Release from Rocky Mount Police Department
At approximately 7:40 p.m. Monday, Rocky Mount Police Department officers were dispatched to calls of shots fired in the 100 block of Bland Street in the Town of Rocky Mount. Officers arrived at 7:42 p.m. and found the victim, Tony Dimitri Bruce, age 26, of 112 Bland Street suffering from a gunshot wound.
ROCKY MOUNT, Va. – Rocky Mount Police investigators have arrested two individuals suspected of involvement in a Monday homicide.
Franklin County Public Safety transported Bruce to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
Rocky Mount Police investigators, including the forensics team, worked to interview potential witnesses, gather evidence and execute search warrants of the property at 112 Bland Street during heavy rain Monday evening into Tuesday morning. Evidence and witness accounts led the investigators to develop suspects in the case, and they worked with adjoining jurisdictions to locate the individuals.
The suspects were arrested in the Axton community of Henry County around dawn Tuesday morning.
“This is the first adult homicide we’ve had in Rocky Mount since I’ve been chief of police, and the first in Rocky Mount in over 20 years,” said Rocky Mount Police Chief Ken Criner. “Our preliminary investigation suggests this situation involves persons known to each other, and there is no reason to believe there is an ongoing threat to
the public.”
An autopsy will be performed on the victim Tuesday at the Western Virginia Medical Examiner’s Office in Roanoke.
“Our officers and investigators have performed outstanding work in investigating this crime against our community,” Criner said. “Many of them have been working for over 24 hours now as we work toward justice in this case.”
This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone who witnessed the crime or who may have information relevant to the case should call Sgt. S.E. Richardson at the Rocky Mount Police Department, 540-483-9275.
Criner thanked Franklin County Public Safety, Franklin County Commonwealth’s Attorney A.J. Dudley, Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Martinsville Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and Virginia State Police and neighboring law enforcement agencies for their assistance.