Shooting Erupts Amid Large Crowds (Image Credits: Wavy.com)
Virginia Beach – Police leaders proposed an emergency curfew for unaccompanied minors at the Oceanfront to address rising safety concerns following a shooting that left six people wounded.[1][2]
Shooting Erupts Amid Large Crowds
Last Saturday night, gunfire broke out at the 1800 block of Atlantic Avenue, where an 18-year-old from Norfolk fired six shots during a dispute.[1] The incident injured six bystanders, ages 18 to 24, as crowds panicked and fled the scene. Authorities charged Matheus Cavalcante with 18 felonies, while police continued searching for a second suspect.[2]
More than 1,500 people gathered in a three-block stretch from 16th to 19th streets, with roughly 60 percent under 18. Officers shut down Atlantic Avenue by 6:30 p.m. to manage crowds and traffic. Over 70 police responded, including more than 50 on overtime, thanks to Chief Paul Neudigate’s intuition.[1] Curfew enforcement started around 11:30 p.m., leading officers to take 37 minors into custody. Three faced arrests, including a 15-year-old found drunk with a handgun, and authorities seized two firearms.[3]
Emergency Measure Targets Imminent Threats
Chief Neudigate urged city council to approve a 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors under 18 on weekends through the end of March, with possible extension into April.[1] The “imminent threat” declaration would let the chief, city manager, and mayor activate it for up to 24 hours, requiring council approval for longer periods. Exceptions would align with the standard curfew policy.
Social media chatter about pop-up events and warmer weather heightened concerns for repeats of the violence. Neudigate stressed compliance over arrests: “At the end of the day, what we’re looking for is compliance. We’re not looking to make mass arrests.”[1] Minors taken into protective custody would go to parents or a recreation center, not a precinct, to minimize trauma.
Persistent Challenges at the Oceanfront
Despite a 32.7 percent drop in violent crime from 2023 to 2024 – and similar gains in 2025 – March and April remain trouble spots.[1] The department operates 100 officers short, straining resources during pre-summer crowds. High visibility failed to prevent the shooting, as Neudigate noted: “Just like this past Saturday night, having officers highly visible in the immediate area is not deterring some individuals from pulling the trigger.”[1]
Past incidents underscore the pattern:
- March 7, 2022: Mass stampede on the Boardwalk.
- April 5, 2025: Shooting and stampede.
- April 25–27, 2025: Over 50 arrests, 28 firearms seized, three shot.
- 2021: Mass shooting killed two, injured eight.
Neudigate warned of inevitable tragedy without action: “It’s not if, but when we’re going to have someone seriously injured or killed as a result of these stampeding conditions.”[1]
Council Weighs Swift Response
Neudigate presented the plan at a March 10 special meeting, with a vote set for March 12. Most members showed support, though some called for root causes beyond policing. Vice Mayor Rosemary Wilson and Councilman Michael Berlucchi backed extending it through April.[1]
Mayor Bobby Dyer blamed state lawmakers for blocking tools like special enforcement zones: “We’ve got to go to the source of the problem, and it’s the failure of the General Assembly.”[3] The city recently advanced its standard curfew to 10 p.m. starting March 19. Sheriff Rocky Holcomb pledged summer support.
This proposal arrives as Virginia Beach balances tourism vibrancy with public safety, testing local resolve against seasonal risks. A successful rollout could set the tone for busier months ahead.
Key Takeaways
- Emergency curfew targets weekends from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. for unaccompanied minors under 18 through March.
- Recent shooting injured six amid 1,500-person crowd; 37 minors detained during enforcement.
- Violent crime declined, but spring crowds pose ongoing “imminent threats,” per police chief.
What do you think of this curfew proposal? Tell us in the comments.
