Shell casings — Bullet casings at a crime scene-stock photo

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – The Virginia Beach Police Department announced the arrest of an 18-year-old Portsmouth man linked to a shots fired incident that occurred in late 2025 after ballistic testing connected shell casings to a recovered firearm.

Police said the incident took place on November 2, 2025, in the 1200 block of Edenham Court, where witnesses reported gunfire coming from a moving vehicle. No injuries were reported.

Weeks later, on November 27, officers investigated another firearm-related offense showing similarities to the earlier shooting. The following day, Suffolk Police conducted a traffic stop on the suspect’s vehicle, arresting the driver on separate gun and narcotics charges.

Subsequent analysis through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) linked the recovered firearm to the November 2 incident. Investigators from the VBPD Fourth Precinct Crime Suppression Squad, the Crime Gun Investigative Squad, and Suffolk Police identified the suspect as Nathaniel Powell, 18, of Portsmouth.

Powell is charged with reckless handling of a firearm, discharging a firearm within city limits, and shooting from a vehicle to endanger persons.

Key details of the case:

Gunfire reported from a moving vehicle on November 2, 2025, at Edenham Court.
Ballistic evidence tied the weapon to the same firearm recovered weeks later.
Nathaniel Powell, 18, faces multiple firearm-related charges.

Police said the case remains under investigation and are urging anyone with information to contact VBPD at (757) 385-2800 or submit tips anonymously through Crime Solvers at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or P3Tips.com.

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