Shots Fired Investigation Results in Officer Involved Shooting on Trace Court

On Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at 3:42 a.m. officers from the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) were dispatched to a call for shots fired in the area of Bonney Road and Trace Court. While on scene, officers heard shots coming from the dead end of Trace Court and immediately responded to the area.

While canvassing, officers encountered two individuals inside a parked car who stated that an individual had just fired shots and pointed out the residence which that subject had fled into. Officers established a perimeter around the apartment and utilized a megaphone to command the occupants to exit. Approximately 20 minutes after surrounding the apartment, Elijah Santiago (M/18) of Virginia Beach, exited the rear of the residence and pointed a handgun with an extended magazine at VBPD officers. Two of the officers discharged their weapons at Santiago, who immediately fled back inside.

Santiago ultimately exited the apartment and surrendered to officers; it was determined that he had not been struck by police gunfire and was uninjured. Santiago has been charged with four counts of Assault on Law Enforcement Officer, Extended Magazine in Public, Discharge of a Firearm in City Limits, Brandishing, and Solicitation of a Straw Purchase.

Both VBPD officers who fired their firearms are uninjured and have been placed on Administrative Leave which is routine in these types of critical incidents.

The VBPD Detective Bureau is conducting one of two criminal investigations into this incident. Upon completion, all evidence obtained by VBPD will be turned over to the Virginia Beach Office of the Commonwealth Attorney (OCA) who will review for compliance with existing law.

In addition to the VBPD investigation, the OCA conducts their own parallel, independent criminal investigation. Upon conclusion of both criminal investigations, the VBPD Internal Affairs Unit will conduct an administrative review to determine compliance with department policy, procedure, and training.

This is an ongoing investigation, anyone with information relating to this case is asked to contact the Virginia Beach Police Detective Bureau at 757-385-4101 or anonymously through Crime Solvers at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.