The suspect in Saturday’s downtown two homicides, 20-year-old Craig Nordenson, has barricaded himself at the very coal tower where he killed 16-year-old Kate Johnson and 23-year-old Marcus Griffin. The coal tower, according to witnesses, is surrounded by police with guns drawn, megaphones out and spotlights. WVIR just now reported on this, and said that police aren’t certain if it’s the suspect or not, but that they believe it is. They also reported that Nordenson has an extensive criminal record, most recently convicted of robbery and grand theft auto, and recently accused of destroying a Charlottesville police van. It’s going to be a late night.
cvillenews.com
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
The father of Frederick Gray, who was killed by police at Squire Hill in 1997, has filed suit against Albemarle County and several members of the police force for wrongful death. Abraham Gray Jr. and his attorney, Deborah Wyatt, filed a 35-page document alleged an extended history of misconduct, racism, and incompetence on the part of the Albemarle police force. In addition, Gray alleges that the whole system is riddled with cover-ups and instances of criminal wrongdoing on the part of particular members of the force. Adrienne Schwisow has an extensive article in today’s Progress, which is well worth reading to get a proper grasp of everything that this suit encompasses.
rpl writes: Courtesy of Edward Murphy, of the UVa Department of Astronomy:
Tonight, Monday, August 20, 2001 at 9:00:00 p.m. there will a great pass of the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle Discovery over Charlottesville and Central Virginia.
To see the ISS, start looking for a slowly moving, very bright star ow in the northwestern sky (azimuth 300) at 8:57 p.m. As it rises up, it will pass between Arcturus and Ursa Major (the Big Dipper). At 9:00:00 p.m. the ISS will pass overhead, and it will disappear into the shadow of the Earth a few minutes later (at 9:02:17 p.m.). When it is at its highest, the ISS will be 419 km away (about 250 miles). It should be brighter than Vega, which is the bright star straight overhead just after sunset.
The Space Shuttle Discovery undocked from the ISS earlier this morning. It should appear about a minute before the ISS following the same track through the sky. However, the shuttle has been maneuvering, and may appear up to 2-3 minutes before the ISS, so go out early.
For more updates, or to generate your own satellite visibility predictions, visit Heavens Above.
That is so elite. So what are the good spots in Charlottesville to star-gaze from?
WVIR reported this evening that police have a suspect in yesterday’s downtown homicides. They’re seeking 20-year-old Craig Nordenson, who normally spends a great deal of time on the Mall, but he has not been seen since Friday. Charlottesville police say that a “team of investigators” are working “around the clock,” and spoke highly of the members of the “gothic subculture” that they’ve been working with to solve the crime. Anybody with information about the murders, or about Nordinson’s location, is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 977-4000, or simply call the police.
Yesterday, Nelson County investigated the discovery of a body, burnt beyond recognition, inside a car in Afton. It is thought to be the remains of 38-year-old Charlottesvillian Clemente Macedo, who was sleeping in his car while staying with extended family. The Progress article presents no evidence as to why Macedo’s death should be considered murder, but it is classified as such by the police. In unrelated news, a 57-year-old woman, Betty Gowen of Crabtree Falls, was arrested yesterday and charged with the murder of her husband, 63-year-old Jack Gowen of Shipman. The Nelson County Sheriff’s office reports that there was a history of domestic altercations between the two. Austin Graham and Reed Williams cover these two stories in today’s Progress.
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 #
-
Archive for Sideblog »
Recent Comments