FRANKLIN, Va. — Police in Franklin confirm a 10-year-old boy has died and a man was hurt in a shooting Wednesday afternoon.
According to the Franklin Police Department, calls for the shooting at the 300 block of Artis Street came in around 3 p.m. Both the 10-year-old boy and 37-year-old man were brought to the local hospital.
The boy died at the hospital. The man was flown to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where he was treated and released.
"This is a very sad day for the City of Franklin. Any loss of life is unwarranted but for a 10-year-old to be the victim of violent crime is unacceptable and we as a community must come together and end this senselessness," Police Chief Steve Patterson said.
Police reported that four subjects arrived at the residence of the man, where an altercation between the adult victim and suspects took place. The suspect, 24-year-old Tashawnda Drayton, began shooting during the altercation and hit both victims, according to police.
A relative of the 10-year-old carried him to another residence, where police, the fire department and EMS found him.
"The Franklin Police Department offers its condolences to the family of the young man killed today and hopes the community will come together to support both families during this time," Patterson said.
Mayor Cutchins shared the following statement: “On behalf of myself and the entire City of Franklin our hearts are broken. There are no words when our community is faced with such an unexplainable act of violence. In moments like this, we need to come together as a community and show love and support for one another. During the days and weeks to come we will face additional challenges and during these times may all remember to show the best in humanity to one another.”
Franklin City Public Schools released a statement on Thursday saying that they are going to be "providing mental health services in the form of counseling at all schools for students and families through 4:30 p.m. today, Aug. 10, 2023... Our hearts are deeply saddened by this tragic loss, and we ask that everyone come together to support the bereaved family at this time."
According to the Gun Violence Archive, this is the first fatal shooting in Franklin since April 2022.
Some neighbors in Franklin call Artis Street a relatively quiet block. The shooting in broad daylight has neighbors living on Artis Street rattled.
“Cars were all down the street and there was tape," Brenda Jones said. "It was disturbing to hear as well as to see.”
Betty Patillo said she was at home when she heard gunshots.
“I was sitting in my front room watching TV and all I heard was four or five shots. Bam bam bam bam,” Patillo said.
Jones said she would see the boy often playing outside with other children. She said he looked like a fun-loving child who would always wave when he saw her.
“This was an innocent child in the wrong place at the wrong time and he lost his life,” Jones said.
Franklin Police Chief Steve Patterson says this marks the first homicide of the year. He said help from the community is important in getting answers in this investigation.
“One of the big things helping with this case is the community," Patterson said. "We’ve got to keep the community outreach going, the community ties going because, without that, we can’t solve these cases.”
Patterson said he's asked the U.S. Marshals to help the Franklin Police Department find Drayton. Detectives were able to identify Drayton as a suspect based on the investigation. She is wanted for several charges, including first-degree murder. Detectives say they believe she is armed and dangerous.
If anyone has information about the incident, they are asked to call Franklin Police at 757-562-8575, Franklin Crime Solvers at 757-516-7100, or submit a tip online using P3 Tips. Information that leads to an arrest can earn the caller a cash reward while remaining anonymous.