VA Beach homicide is first since '09, residents question safety

theGRIO REPORT - While the Hampton Roads police say crime in the area is down, the murder of Codaro Simpkins, 22, has many residents on edge...

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

Many said Codaro Simpkins was heading for the world title in boxing. However, the young professional boxer was shot and killed on the Virginia Beach oceanfront this weekend. He was 22-years-old.

For the Hampton Roads area of southeastern Virginia, this is the heart of the tourist season. For a young, talented athlete with a promising future to be gunned down just blocks from popular tourist areas isn’t just shocking; it’s called many to question their safety.

“The police department is very aware of the special needs for that area and we have a lot of resources that we direct to that,” said said City Councilman John Uhrin in a report to NBC’s WAVY-TV-10. “Unfortunately, sometimes enough is never quite enough.”

While local police say crime is better than what it used to be, with less assaults and less than half of the robberies of last year, this is the first homicide since 2009. Boarded up buildings and deserted storefronts have not helped the police department’s case.

No suspects have been found in Simpkins’ murder. Residents are urged to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (1-800-562-5887) if they have any information.

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