As many Central Virginia residents welcomed the start of 2026, police say celebratory gunfire echoed across Richmond, prompting dozens of emergency calls and at least one arrest tied directly to social media.
The Richmond Police Department said officers received 72 calls reporting random gunfire on New Year’s Eve, including multiple reports tied to the same incidents. Just hours into the new year, detectives were alerted to a Facebook livestream showing a man firing a gun into the air around midnight on January 1.
Investigators identified the suspect as 40 year old William McGriff. Police said detectives determined the video was recorded in the 2300 block of Halifax Avenue. A search warrant was executed at the location around 2:28 p.m., where officers recovered a firearm and arrested McGriff. Authorities said he faces a charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, with additional charges expected…