Victim shot Saturday at Virginia Beach Oceanfront remains in critical condition; suspect arrested
An Oceanfront shooting victim remained in critical condition four days after the incident, according to Virginia Beach police.
Virginia Beach officers responded to a shooting around 11:50 p.m. Saturday near the Oceanfront. Officers on patrol heard multiple gunshots, spokesperson Melissa Johnston said Sunday.
In a news release Wednesday, police shared additional information about the incident, including that the shooting was caught on surveillance cameras. The gunshot victim, whose identity has not been released, was located in the 2100 block of Atlantic Avenue.
He was treated on scene by emergency medical personnel before being transported to a hospital, where he remained in critical condition Wednesday.
A 21-year-old suspect was located “within seconds” of the incident by assisting officers, police said.
Lamont Walton Jr., of Virginia Beach, was charged with aggravated malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a concealed weapon.
“The additional cameras recently placed in the resort area captured the incident from multiple angles,” the release said.
Prior to Sunday, the resort area of Virginia Beach, which encompasses approximately 40 blocks at the Oceanfront, had gone 343 days without a gunshot victim, police said in Wednesday’s news release. The department also reported the area has seen a 68% decrease in violent crime from the start of the year compared to January 1, 2021 through May 25, 2021.
Caitlyn Burchett, 727-267-6059, caitlyn.burchett@virginiamedia.com
