Laurence Hammack

Roanoke

Veteran Roanoke Times reporter, covering environmental issues, including the Mountain Valley Pipeline, and business and enterprise stories.

Featured in: Favicon

roanoke.com Favicon

usnews.com Favicon

apnews.com Favicon

chron.com

washingtontimes.com Favicon

sfchronicle.com Favicon

houstonchronicle.com Favicon

dailyherald.com Favicon

seattlepi.com Favicon

newsobserver.com + 78 more

Articles

Evidence from shooting in downtown Roanoke collected by police

6 days ago | roanoke.com | Laurence Hammack

The fifth suspect has been arrested in connection with gunfire that happened in the heart of downtown early May 3. Tyrese Justin Hairston, 26, of Roanoke, was arrested on charges of reckless handling of a firearm and shooting in the city. Four other suspects are also being held without bond in the case. A search warrant filed in Roanoke Circuit Court states that police responded to reports of gunshots in the area of 202 Market St., the address of the 202 Social House restaurant and nightclub.
Fatal shooting reported in southeast Roanoke

6 days ago | roanoke.com | Laurence Hammack

A man was shot and killed early Friday in southeast Roanoke, police say. Just after 4 a.m., officers responded to a report of shots fired in the 1300 block of Jamison AvenueThey found a man with gunshot wounds in a parking lot. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim was not immediately identified. There have been no arrests. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Roanoke Police Department at 540-344-8500.
Class action lawsuit settled against Roanoke medical clinic

1 week ago | roanoke.com | Laurence Hammack

A Roanoke medical practice has agreed to pay $918,500 to settle a class action lawsuit filed by current and former patients whose personal information was stolen in a major data breach. U.S. District Judge Michael Urbanski said during a hearing Thursday that he will grant preliminary approval of an agreement between Physicians to Women and attorneys for more than 91,000 affected individuals, according to court records.
Botetourt County school bus driver charged with assault

1 week ago | roanoke.com | Laurence Hammack

A Botetourt County school bus driver is facing 25 counts of assault and battery. The charges were brought as part of an ongoing investigation into reports from county school officials of “alleged misconduct” by the driver, according to a news release from the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office. Raymond Lewis Sherwood III, 50, of Troutville, was charged in connection with incidents that allegedly happened April 15 and April 22.
Former Roanoke County dispatcher facing child porn charges

1 week ago | roanoke.com | Laurence Hammack

Roanoke police have filed additional child pornography charges against a former 911 dispatcher for Roanoke County. Logan Michael Spencer, 28, was first arrested in February on a charge of possession of child pornography. A city grand jury added three more charges this week — one count of possession of obscene material with a minor and two additional counts of possessing child pornography. Spencer, of Roanoke, has also served as volunteer chief for the Cave Spring Volunteer Rescue Squad since 2020.
Murder conviction of Roanoke man reversed on appeal

1 week ago | roanoke.com | Laurence Hammack

The Virginia Court of Appeals reversed a murder conviction Tuesday of a Roanoke man who is serving a 25-year prison sentence. Alsharrief Malik Mahoney will not be released immediately, as prosecutors consider appealing the decision of a three-judge panel of the appellate court, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney John McNeil said. Sheila Moheb, a Roanoke attorney who represents Mahoney, said she hopes there will be no more appeals.
Vinton attorney gets public reprimand in billing dispute with client

1 week ago | roanoke.com | Laurence Hammack

The Virginia State Bar has issued a public reprimand to a Vinton attorney for the way he handled a billing dispute with a client. Dirk Padgett, who has been licensed to practice law since 1990, agreed to the disciplinary measure, which requires him to complete six hours of continuing legal education on the topic of trust accounting. Padgett is seeking the Republican nomination to run for the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors.
Medical emergency caused fatal wreck, Roanoke police say

1 week ago | roanoke.com | Laurence Hammack

A 79-year-old woman apparently had a medical emergency that caused a wreck that killed her as she drove the wrong way down a Roanoke street, city police say. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Kathleen Diane Witt, of Roanoke County, died at the scene of the crash Friday afternoon in the 3100 block of Peters Creek Road. Witt’s car collided head-on with a second vehicle, sending two woman occupants to the hospital for treatment.
Early morning shooting in downtown Roanoke injures 3

1 week ago | roanoke.com | Laurence Hammack

One of three men injured in a shooting in downtown Roanoke early Saturday has been identified by police as the primary aggressor. At about 12:56 a.m., officers responded to reports of shots fired in a parking lot in the 200 block of Market Street, in the historic City Market. Police found evidence of a shooting in the parking lot, but located no victims, according to a news release Sunday night from the Roanoke Police Department.
Special education student in Salem wrongly suspended, lawsuit says

1 week ago | roanoke.com | Laurence Hammack

A federal lawsuit accuses Salem City Schools of improperly suspending a special education student, whom it found responsible for causing a disturbance at Andrew Lewis Middle School. The case involves an eighth grader who suffers from a variety of mental and emotional disabilities that include autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, sensory processing difficulty and oppositional defiant disorder.