Incredibly, gunman Craig Nordenson, who had barricaded himself in the downtown coal tower last night, escaped. After an all-night standoff, a SWAT team stormed the tower at 7:40am and found it empty. Police aren’t sure how he managed to get away, what with the dozens of police, the helicopter, the infrared and night vision, and the dozens — possibly hundreds — of onlookers. Several friends of Nordenson have said that he owned a handheld police scanner, and witnesses last night that had snuck right up to the coal tower were shocked to find large areas of land adjacent to the tower entirely unguarded, leaving a potential exit route for the gunman. This also makes the four shots fired around 2:15am a bit of a mystery. All of this is oddly reminiscent of April’s standoff between the SWAT team and an empty house, which resulted in several tear-gassed poodles and a destroyed house.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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Why is the Lexis building closed? And, why is this not reported on NBC29 news? Getting my info from a friend who works there. As far as NBC29 news goes this morning – the coal tower story is not important enough to even mention.
Wow, that’s incredible. I wonder if Optronics and Inova are closed, also? I know there’s at least one regular reader from Inova, though I don’t know about Optronics. Hey, if anybody else picks up bits of information like this, post them here, would you?
That is absolutely shocking that NBC 29 didn’t mention the coal tower this morning.
I guess this is why cvillenews.com exists. :)
I watched all morning waiting for them to cover it. They just kept replaying that stupid Gilmore story that they ran yesterday!
When we have a bit of distance from all of this, that will co ntinue to disturb me.
I wasn’t clear enough. I found it strange and unsettling that this really wasn’t on the news much. I hung out with some WVIR folks over at the house this afternoon and they’re certainly nice and well-intentioned, but for me… well, I wanted to know what was going on enough so much that I walked over there.