ROANOKE, Va. – Despite a significant decrease in gun-related homicides, Roanoke remains among Virginia’s most affected cities by gun violence, ranking sixth highest in the state for homicide rates, according to a new report by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission.
The city has seen a 28% reduction in gun-related homicides, outpacing Virginia’s overall 22% decrease statewide. However, Roanoke’s five-year average of 17.7 homicides annually keeps it among the state’s most impacted communities.
“When life is lost to senseless tragedy, in my opinion, there’s not many things that are sadder than that,” Roanoke City Councilman Phazhon Nash said…