Woman shot to death at downtown Petersburg apartment complex; police say it was domestic-related
PETERSBURG — A Petersburg man is in custody charged with the city's 21st homicide of the year Friday night at an apartment complex near the downtown area.
Justin Rawlings, 36, was arrested without incident at the scene, according to Petersburg Police. He has been charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is being held pending a court appearance.
Deputy Police Chief Emanuel Chambliss said the shooting was reported shortly after 9 p.m. Friday at the ArtistSpace Lofts in the 100 block of Perry Street. Police found the victim, also 36 years old, suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. She was taken to Bon Secours Southside Medical Center in Petersburg where she later died.
The shooting was domestic-related, Chambliss said. The victim's identity has not yet been released.
The shooting was the second incident reported Friday night at ArtistSpace Lofts. Chambliss said there also was a robbery there, but the two are unrelated. It was initially thought that the victim in the robbery had been shot, but Chambliss said he had only been assaulted, not shot.
Friday's homicide happened five months to the day since a 19-year-old woman was killed as she walked into the ArtistSpace Lofts. Three people, including a juvenile, have been indicted on more than 25 charges stemming from that shooting.
So far this year in Petersburg, there have been 21 murders, three more than recorded all of last year.
This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Petersburg Police arrest man in city's 21st homicide of 2022
