The U.S. Attorney for the Western Division of Virginia announced the indictment of nine people today.
Four are charged with the murder of Waynesboro police officer Kevin Quick. All but one are accused of other crimes committed as members of the Bloods street gang.
U.S. Attorney Timothy Heaphy refused to provide details on the murder of Reserve Police Officer Quick, saying only that he may have been killed because he witnessed another crime. Eight people are charged with armed robberies of convenience stores, burglaries and drug trafficking to support themselves and their gang – a division of the Bloods. Heaphy said their arrest was just one step in efforts to stop gang activity in Virginia.
“It’s essential that while we bring these important cases, that we work to ensure that our young people have alternatives to the lure of gang membership, that we invest in them and in their lives in a meaningful way so that there is not the powerful temptation that exists to join these criminal street gangs.”
Three of the accused are from Charlottesville, one from Louisa and four from Northern Virginia. All are behind bars. Their first court date is July 23rd. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty.
