Virginia Beach man gunned down as police arrest suspect in under nine hours
Virginia Beach, VA – A man was shot and killed late Monday afternoon in a residential neighborhood, and within nine hours, police arrested a 19-year-old Newport News man in connection with the fatal shooting.
At approximately 5:25 p.m., Virginia Beach Emergency Communications received a report of a person shot in the 900 block of Thousand Oaks Drive. Responding officers found 34-year-old Markel Alexander Cephas of Chester, Virginia, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives with the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) launched a homicide investigation and quickly identified Roberto Amir Inniss, 19, as the primary suspect. Investigators credited the rapid identification and apprehension of Inniss to the use of real-time technology, including Flock Safety license plate reader systems, and collaboration with the Chesapeake Police Department.
By early Tuesday morning, Inniss was in custody. He has been charged with murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
The arrest marks one of the fastest homicide-related apprehensions in the city this year, with police emphasizing the role of advanced digital tools and cross-jurisdictional teamwork in tracking down the suspect.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Virginia Beach Police at (757) 385-4101 or submit tips anonymously via Crime Solvers at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or P3Tips.com.
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Key Points
- A 34-year-old man was fatally shot Monday evening in Virginia Beach
- The suspect, a 19-year-old from Newport News, was arrested within nine hours
- License plate reader technology played a key role in the quick apprehension