Just got this very nondescript press release from the city..

Charlottesville Police are investigating a shooting incident that occurred in the 2000 block of Michie Drive at around 11:30 PM last evening.

Two twenty year old black male subjects were the victims of gunfire. Their injuries are not life threatening, and both provided their own transportation to the hospital where police were notified.

Investigators are not releasing any additional information with respect to victim identity or the precise nature of their injuries.

The suspect in this incident has been described as a black male, approximately 5’8” tall and was said to be wearing a white tee shirt. The suspect may have been operating a black 4 door sedan.

This investigation is in the very early stages and is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 977-4000.

Does this sound like a Drive By?

UPDATE!!!! Read about it HERE!

The weather is getting warmer, and this weekend is hotter. This should keep you busy this weekend:

• Fridays After Five: The Charlottesville Funk All Stars open for the Lee Boys performance at 5:30PM . From their website “The Lee Boys are one of America’s finest African-American sacred steel ensembles. This family group consists of three brothers, Alvin Lee (guitar), Derrick Lee and Keith Lee (vocals) along with their three nephews, Roosevelt Collier (pedal steel guitar), Alvin Cordy Jr. (7-string bass) and Earl Walker (drums). Each member began making music at the ages of 7 and 8 in the House of God church they attended in Perrine, FL. Here they underwent a rigorous course of training in a variety of musical instruments, including lap and pedal steel guitars. Born and raised in Miami, each of The Lee Boys grew up in the church where their father and grandfather, Rev. Robert E. Lee, was the pastor and a steel player himself.” They are also playing at the Outback Lodge at 10PM for $10.
• Sex And The City Party: For all of you wannabe New-yorkers still living in cville, you can almost live vicariously through the show’s best music at 216 on Friday night.
• Sex And The City Movie Premiere: This movie is only playing in one theater in all of Cville, Carmike 6 on Garden Blvd. You can watch this all weekend at 1:00, 1:30, 4:00, 7:00, 7:30, 10:00, 10:30. The Girl’s Night Out is organizing a move night for all you women out there.
• Bent Theatre Comedy Group: Performing in Lovingston, VA, at Rapunzel’s Coffee and Books from 8pm-10pm on Friday night.
• String of Pearls: Live Art’s new performance opens tonight at 8PM. Buy tickets here for $12 -$14. Catch the next show on Saturday night at 8PM as well
• Farmer’s Market: Saturday from 7AM-12PM you can catch the freshest produce, meat and poultry this side of the Mason Dixon.
• Crabtree Falls Hike: a moderate hike with 7 people attending so far
• Handgun Shooting: Saturday 2PM at Rivanna Rifle and Pistol Club. This will come in handy when you run for President and claim that you were born with an NRA license in your mouth.

What other happenings are going on this weekend?

I absolutely just heard 10-15 gunshots coming from near the corner of Ridge and Elliott. It could not have been anything other than a clip unloading. Does anybody live nearby that heard or saw anything? Or would like to step forward and confess? Not everybody at once, there’s plenty of internet to go around, just tell me why I have to listen to fucking gunshots every night.

It was weird around town this morning. Normal traffic has subsided to holiday-like levels. I was a little concerned because I didn’t think it was a holiday.

Then I found out that Four Vehicles Had Been Shot on I-64 as part of a shooting spree early this morning. There aren’t many details about the shooting, but Interstate 64 was shut down for several hours this morning from exits 96 to 118. I-64 supposedly has a massive backup.

Was this the place where the shootings took place from (Exit 99 Overpass)? Photo courtesy of Tom Daly Photography.

The Daily Progress reports on the injuries:

Sgt. Dave Cooper said four vehicles were shot along an 11-mile stretch of Interstate 64. The first report of shootings came in at 12:10 a.m. Thursday. An Augusta Medical Center spokesperson said two drivers were treated and released. A Swoope man was treated at AMC for a shoulder injury after a bullet hit the windshield of his Mazda 3. A woman in the vehicle was not injured. A woman driving a van was also being treated for minor injuries in a separate shooting incident in the same area, police said.

I imagine this will bring national media attention to Charlottesville and I-64. Was anyone on 64 around this time or know anyone who was close by the shooting?

Update 9:15AM: “Charlottesville News” is the 7th Highest Searched Term on Google on March 27th. [ref]

Update 12:30PM: Shooter Locations

• The westbound offramp at the Ivy Exit (#114)
• The overpass at Route 690 (#106)
• The Virginia Department of Transportation building at Yancey Mills

Update 2:00PM: Full Press Release from Virginia State Police (after the jump) »Read More

MMMMMM, yummy….

No comment.

Update: But I will comment on the next video, from Roanoake (view it after the break). I don’t know which scene I like best, the woman shooting double machine guns, the grandma and the 50 caliber, the children shooting machine guns or the Lance bracelets next to the guns.

»Read More