I saw about ten police cars, all with lights flashing, at the C-burg rec
center last night about 5:30. Definitely had me wondering what kind of event necessitated that level of police response in Christiansburg.
Finally found the report that two people had an argument during a basketball game. The argument continued outside, where one of them went to their car, got a gun, fired two shots in the air, and drove off. He has since been arrested.
My two takeaway thoughts are:
1 - What is wrong with people that an argument at a basketball game could escalate to where bringing a firearm into the situation seems like a good idea?
2 - That seemed like an excessive police presence at a location where no one was killed or injured, and the at-large gunman wasn't there anymore. I get that a gunman at-large in Christiansburg is likely a worthy event to have every on-duty officer on the lookout...but they were all at the rec center, which is the one place the gunman wasn't.
27 Replies
M
MikeVT85
5mo
(In response to this post by Tafkam Hokie)
5mo
thought.
In my head, that looked like every on-duty officer responded and was on-site, even though that was the one place the suspect they should be looking for wasn't. But I thought the police dept here was maybe 20 officers...it's actually 65.
That was a significant police presence, which was appropriate given there were shots fired at a crowded, public place. But it wasn't literally every on-duty officer.
But I'll stick by the question of what is wrong with people that a firearm needs to come into a verbal argument at a basketball game.
(In response to this post by Tafkam Hokie)
5mo
** Edited by astrohokie at 2/23/2026, 11:16:32 PM
(In response to this post by Tafkam Hokie)
5mo
...and we probably already have multiple times here on the Lounge. But I doubt we can do so without violating the board rules, so I'll just leave it at that.
(In response to this post by Tafkam Hokie)
5mo
on the opposite side of town or the county when you have that large of a police response.
We used to joke at home when the county fair was in town (this was rural south-side VA) it was the perfect time to commit a crime somewhere else in the county because all the on-duty deputies would be policing the fair grounds.
(In response to this post by Tafkam Hokie)
5mo
A firearm should be thought of like a fire extinguisher or an epi-pen. You really, REALLY hope you never need it, but you're sure glad you've got it and know how to use it if you did need it. It ain't something that you should ever go looking for a reason to use.
(In response to this post by UTPr0sim)
5mo
** Edited by UTPr0sim at 2/23/2026, 1:37:52 PM
(In response to this post by Tafkam Hokie)
5mo
There are plenty of us law-abiding gun owners that have fired thousands of rounds safely and never once illegally or with malice. Most of us own firearms for self protection from idiots like the one that caused a scene at the C-burg rec center on Saturday. Don't lump us in the same category as him.
(In response to this post by UTPr0sim)
5mo
(In response to this post by PhotoHokieNC)
5mo
glad I missed all the action.
(In response to this post by Tafkam Hokie)
5mo
Who's to say the gunman didn't leave to round up his posse and return to the rec center?
I'm glad no one got hurt. Richmond just had a terrible shootout over the weekend that resulted in two deaths and multiple injuries. The good news is our mayor is on it with a plan to put unarmed "community ambassadors" on the street to curb the violence! 🙄
(In response to this post by Tafkam Hokie)
H
Hurley09
5mo
"We didn't take it serious at first because we are in Shockoe Bottom. So we're used to the gunshots" what an awesome indictment of that area.
(In response to this post by MP4VT2004)
H
Hurley09
5mo
Church Hill Irish Festival last year. It was incredible. I went from Darby O'Gill and the Little People to Leprechaun in the Hood in about half a mile. And I mean that, they were showing Leprechaun in the Hood on the TV in the bar.
I do like getting the train from there, much more convenient station for me. But their schedule is very limited compared to Staples Mill.
(In response to this post by MP4VT2004)
5mo
I've been there a couple of times...it does seem like a cool place.
On an unrelated note, did you and the missus get to go on your weekend escape? You guys have had a rough month, so hopefully you were able to get away and hit the "reset button".
(In response to this post by Hurley09)
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Hurley09
5mo
festival up the road.
We did, thanks for asking. Hit Kilmarnock for a couple days, what a lovely place. On the way into town I saw a sign for a concert on 2/28 and started laughing cause it's my buddy's band. He didn't tell me he was going to be performing anywhere near me, though he also probably has no idea where Quinton is. Another friend and I are heading up there on Saturday to see them rock some Celtic tunes.
(In response to this post by MP4VT2004)
5mo
I'm not Irish, but I can definitely appreciate some Celtic music. My FIL's side of the family has Irish heritage, and my wife has a distant cousin who is an award-winning fiddler and folksinger. You can check out his band in the link below if you're interested.
Link:
Sean Heely Celtic Band
(In response to this post by Hurley09)
H
Hurley09
5mo
When I lived in Annandale there was a concert series in the local park and he was one of the performers one weekend. He was great.
(In response to this post by MP4VT2004)
5mo
I'm not upset by the amount of police that responded.
(In response to this post by Tafkam Hokie)
5mo
Meeting when it happened...off duty of course.
It was over a basketball game. Guy was from Roanoke (Hey, Roanokers, keep your violence in Roanoke! Ha).
He fled the scene and was captured by state police at one of the exits in Roanoke off I81.
There were lots of people there at the time so that's why there was a large police response.
(In response to this post by Tafkam Hokie)
B
BobG
5mo
In a town that size, when there's nothing else going on on a Sunday evening, yeah you better believe every available cop is gonna show up, secure the scene, and get info to track down a gunman.
You'd also gripe if only one cop showed up.
Don't blame the cops for responding.
(In response to this post by Tafkam Hokie)
