VBPD Makes Arrest in S. Budding Avenue Homicide

On April 14, 2025, at 2:33 a.m., officers from the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) were dispatched to the 200 block of S. Budding Ave. for a report of shots fired. Officers arrived at the scene and located a 17-year-old male suffering from gunshot wound(s). The victim was transported to a local hospital and on April 16, 2025, succumbed to his injuries.

Later that day, at approximately 8:30 p.m., VBPD officers responded to the 4100 block of Sassafras Ct. for a report of shots fired. When officers arrived, they found two individuals suffering from gunshot wounds; both were transported to local hospitals. One of the victims was identified as Josiah Spann (M/18) of Virginia Beach. In this offense, Spann was charged with Armed Robbery, Aggravated Malicious Wounding, Shooting in the Commission of a Felony, and Use of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony.

VBPD Violent Crimes Unit detectives have worked diligently over the past few weeks to identify the individual responsible for the S. Budding Ave. offense. As a result of their diligence and dedication, they have identified the same suspect, Josiah Spann, as the suspect in the S. Budding homicide; Spann is now facing additional counts of First-Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony.

At the scene of the Sassafras Ct. incident, officers recovered a firearm, later reported stolen, which was linked the S. Budding Ave. homicide via the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).

“These incidents are a vivid reminder that stolen firearms are frequently used to commit violent crime,” said VBPD Chief Paul Neudigate. “In this case, an individual visiting from South Carolina to our Resort Area realized once they returned home their firearm had been stolen out of their vehicle.  That same firearm was subsequently used in the death of one individual and serious injury of another. Negligence enabled a criminal to carry out two horrendous acts of violence.”

(Note: The charges mentioned in this press release are accusations, and the arrested individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.)