Executive Summary
- Officers responded to the 2000 block of Carroll Avenue Northwest around 9:00 a.m. Sunday.
- Two men were found dead with gunshot wounds inside a vehicle behind the Refreshing Church.
- The incident disrupted Sunday services as police secured the area as a crime scene.
- No suspects have been identified, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Roanoke Police have initiated a homicide investigation after two men were found dead from gunshot wounds inside a vehicle behind a church in Northwest Roanoke on Sunday morning. The discovery occurred as parishioners were arriving for morning services, transforming a place of worship into an active crime scene.
According to the Roanoke Police Department, officers responded to a call in the 2000 block of Carroll Avenue Northwest at approximately 9:00 a.m. Upon arrival at the location, which houses the Refreshing Church, law enforcement personnel discovered two adult males inside a parked car. Authorities stated that both individuals had sustained gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses described a heavy police response that disrupted the Sunday routine. Tammy Hash, a member of the Refreshing Church, told reporters that the congregation was met with flashing lights and police tape. “It’s just something that you don’t expect to happen at a church, but more and more we realize it happens everywhere,” Hash stated, expressing the community’s shock at the proximity of the violence.
Dawn Coleman, a resident of the neighborhood and a crisis prevention worker, reported hearing sirens shortly after 9:00 a.m. Coleman stated she attempted to warn church members before they arrived to prevent them from being overwhelmed by the sight of the investigation. “To find out someone had lost their life on church grounds on a Sunday morning startled me,” Coleman said.
Investigative Outlook
The investigation remains in its preliminary stages, with Roanoke Police detectives working to establish a timeline of events and identify potential suspects. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims or a possible motive for the shooting. Residents in the Carroll Avenue area have been advised to expect a continued police presence as forensic teams process the scene. Law enforcement officials are urging anyone with information regarding the incident to contact the Roanoke Police Department directly to assist with the ongoing inquiry.
