HOPEWELL – Police have arrested another person in connection with the series of shootings that have plagued the city over the past month.
On Tuesday, Dedric Ramon Taggart Jr., 23, of Hopewell was arrested in connection with a July 27 shooting at a gas station and convenience store on South 15th Avenue near the Cavalier Square shopping center. He is charged with willful assault, discharge of a firearm causing injury, shooting at an occupied vehicle and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime.
According to police reports, the shooting occurred in the store’s parking lot. Investigators found several bullet casings at the scene.
While authorities were on the scene, the victim was taken to the emergency room at HCA TriCities Hospital in Hopewell with a gunshot wound that was not life-threatening.
The shooting was one of eight reported citywide since July 21. During the series, three people have been killed – two on July 21 at a house party on North Radford Drive and the third on August 18 in the Davisville section of Hopewell.
A suspect has been arrested in connection with the Davisville murder and another shooting that occurred on August 4 at Thomas Rolfe Court. Police are still searching for the suspect or suspects in connection with the double murder.
More: Hopewell police identify man found dead in James River Tuesday morning; cause of death unknown
