Portsmouth police identify victims of triple homicide
Portsmouth police have identified the three people killed in a shooting in the city’s Prentis Park neighborhood Tuesday morning.
The incident happened around 9:30 a.m. at a home in the 1600 block of Maple Avenue that was being used as a boarding house, according to police. One man, Davonta Georgio Lee, 30, and two women, Oleisha Deanna Mears, 37, and Ashley Merricks, 34, were found dead at the scene, police said.
A 66-year-old man also was seriously injured, and was listed in critical condition Wednesday.
All four victims were believed to be staying at the house, but were not related, police said.
Witnesses said a 2011 black GMC Acadia with Virginia tags VVF-9829 was possibly seen leaving the scene, police said. No other details about the shooting have been released.
On Wednesday, the crime scene tape — and any other evidence that may have indicated a shooting had occurred at the property — had been removed. A black cat could be seen walking back and forth on an interior windowsill at the front of the house, but no one answered the door.
Three people who live in homes across the street from the property said they’d never seen any unusual activity at the house.
This is a developing story. Check back later at pilotonline.com for updates.
Ali Sullivan, 757-677-1974, ali.sullivan@virginiamedia.com
Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com
