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Police searching for vehicle of interest after 4 killed in Portsmouth shooting

A man and two women were shot and killed Tuesday morning, while another man died in the hospital three days later.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Police have identified the victims of a deadly quadruple shooting near Effingham Street in Portsmouth Tuesday morning.

The shooting happened in the 1500 block of Maple Avenue just after 9:30 a.m. Officers arrived to find a man and two women dead from gunshot wounds:

  • 30-year-old Georgio Davonta Lee
  • 37-year-old Oleisha Deanna Mears
  • 34-year-old Ashley Merricks

Additionally, a 66-year-old man was also taken to the hospital in critical condition, with life-threatening injuries. On Friday afternoon, police said this man, Samuel Jones, succumbed to his injuries.

Witnesses tell police a possible 2011 black GMC Acadia with Virginia tags VVF-9829 was seen leaving the area shortly after the shooting. No suspect information is available at this time.

Community members said they’re on edge after this latest shooting.

“Everybody is trying to stop the violence but they really can’t stop because it’s all over, not just here in Portsmouth, it’s all over the United States," said one woman who did not want to be named. "Somebody does need to do something and they need to go to the top, not the bottom. Start from the top.”

Freddie Taylor of Stop The Violence 757 questioned why he didn’t see members of Portsmouth City Council at the scene after news of the shooting broke.

“The families are hurting out here. They’re not in the city council hall, they’re not hurting down there, they’re hurting out here in the communities. The police officers are out here. Where’s the mayor? Where the other council leaders? Where are they at? This is their ward. They’re not out here," Taylor said. "How often do you all them in the community? They’re at city hall, they’re sitting behind their desks, but they need to be out here in the community.”

According to Portsmouth Police Chief Renado Prince, 12 shootings happened across Portsmouth over the past seven days. He released the names and pictures of five people wanted by police.

He said officers arrested all of these men before, but they’re still out there.

"The question is, why are they still in our streets after being arrested by police departments across Hampton Roads? That’s one of our major issues," Prince said.

When asked if the courts are to blame for granting bail or not bringing people to trial sooner, Prince said: “I can’t say it’s the courts but something in our system is not working right. I’m not trying to shift blame but the police departments, we’re doing our part. We’re the ones that arrest people who violate the law. That’s our primary function, regardless of what anyone else might say and we’re doing that. But we still see these people on the streets.”

The police chief said he knows there are people out there with information on these shootings and it’s time they come forward with information. Remember, you can remain anonymous.

“Somebody listening knows what led to a shooting, somebody listening knows who the shooter was, somebody listening has not yet been affected by the violence in our city," he said. "Don’t wait for it to be your turn before you decide to open your mouth and say something.”

These aren't the only shootings to happen in the city over the last day.

In two other shootings, a man was hurt in the 1000 block of 7th Street, and a man was shot to death in the 4500 block of George Washington Highway.

Anyone with information on any of these shootings is asked to call the area's Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP. You can also leave an anonymous tip online with P3Tips.

Tipsters won't have to testify in court and could get a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

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