Top Story VIOLENT CRIME 'A spike doesn't mean a trend': Roanoke police chief talks recent downtown shootings LAURENCE HAMMACK The Roanoke Times Jan 23, 2026 Jan 23, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save ROANOKE — With gun violence in Roanoke down over the past two years, the first 20 days of January began in a way police hope will not continue.kAm~? %F6D52J ?:89E[ 2 >2? H2D 72E2==J D9@E :? E96 b__ 3=@4< @7 %2K6H6== pG6?F6 $@FE962DE[ >2C<:?8 E96 4:EJ’D E9:C5 9@>:4:56 @7 E96 J62C — 2== @7 E96> :? E96 5@H?E@H? 2C62]k^AmkAm“p DA:<6 5@6D?VE >2<6 2 EC6?5[” #@2?@<6 !@=:46 r9:67 $4@EE q@@E9 E@=5 %96 #@2?@<6 %:>6D @? (65?6D52J] “$@ xV> 9@A67F= E92E H6V== 4@?E:?F6 E@ 92G6 2 36EE6C a_ae[ 36EE6C E92? H92E H6 925 :? a_ad]”k^Am kAmpE 23@FE gidh A]>] %F6D52J[ A@=:46 C6DA@?565 E@ 2 D9@@E:?8 F?56C E96 9:89H2J @G6CA2DD[ 2E E96 6586 @7 5@H?E@H?[ 2?5 7@F?5 2 >2? 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E96 A2C<:?8 =@E 6?4@F?E6C H@F?565 3J 8F?7:C6 — A@=:46 >256 2 4@?46CE65 677@CE E@ BF:4<=J 2CC6DE E9@D6 :?G@=G65]k^Am kAm“xE H2D <:?5 @7 2 >FEF2= >6=66 H96C6 E96J H6C6 D9@@E:?8 2E 6249 @E96C[” q@@E9 D2:5] “$@ H6 H2?E65 E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E @FC 4@>>F?:EJ <?6H E92E H6 E@@< E92E D6C:@FD=J]”k^Am kAm}@?6 @7 E96 5@H?E@H? D9@@E:?8D E9:D >@?E9 :?G@=G65 2? :??@46?E 3JDE2?56C] x? E96 5@F3=6 9@>:4:56[ 2? 2C8F>6?E 3C@<6 @FE 36EH66? p=6I |2=66< p?5C6HD[ ae[ 2?5 r9C:DE@A96C s@>:?:BF6 q2?<D[ ba[ 3@E9 @7 #@2?@<6] %96 EH@ >6? D9@E @?6 2?@E96Cj @?6 H2D AC@?@F?465 5625 2E E96 D46?6 2?5 E96 @E96C 5:65 2 D9@CE E:>6 =2E6C 2E 2 =@42= 9@DA:E2=]k^Am kAmq@E9 >6? 925 6IE6?D:G6 4C:>:?2= C64@C5D] }@ @?6 6=D6 :D 36=:6G65 E@ 36 :?G@=G65[ A@=:46 D2:5]k^AmkAmp?J@?6 H:E9 :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE 2?J @7 E96 D9@@E:?8D :D 2D<65 E@ 4@?E24E A@=:46 2E dc_\bcc\gd__]k^Am Laurence Hammack (540) 981-3239laurence.hammack@roanoke.com 0 comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Rocky Mount man charged with killing his brother Authorities found the body of Charles Arthur Smith Jr. on March 17, after he had been reported missing. Franklin County considers 7-cent real estate tax increase Supervisors in Franklin County are considering increasing the real estate tax rate up to 7 cents as they look for ways to balance the budget i… Kids invited to annual Cops and Bobbers event by Rocky Mount PD Kids age 12 and under are invited to cast a line for the chance to to win a variety of prizes. Smith Mountain Lake saw increase in boating incidents and deaths in 2025 Here's what to know about boating incidents and deaths at Smith Mountain Lake last year, and how they compare to previous years. Chip Sullivan, golfer and instructor 'loved by so many,' dies at 61 Chip Sullivan, a longtime PGA director of golf in the Roanoke Valley who made PGA Tour starts spanning a quarter of a century, died Friday. He was 61.
Rocky Mount man charged with killing his brother Authorities found the body of Charles Arthur Smith Jr. on March 17, after he had been reported missing.
Franklin County considers 7-cent real estate tax increase Supervisors in Franklin County are considering increasing the real estate tax rate up to 7 cents as they look for ways to balance the budget i…
Kids invited to annual Cops and Bobbers event by Rocky Mount PD Kids age 12 and under are invited to cast a line for the chance to to win a variety of prizes.
Smith Mountain Lake saw increase in boating incidents and deaths in 2025 Here's what to know about boating incidents and deaths at Smith Mountain Lake last year, and how they compare to previous years.
Chip Sullivan, golfer and instructor 'loved by so many,' dies at 61 Chip Sullivan, a longtime PGA director of golf in the Roanoke Valley who made PGA Tour starts spanning a quarter of a century, died Friday. He was 61.
