James City County Police have made one arrest and identified another suspect in connection with a July 28 shooting at a 7-Eleven.
Police have charged both men with gang-related offenses — although the warrants have not been served on one suspect — and court documents say the men may be involved with the Bloods and Crips street gangs.
Police believe Hakeem Galberth, 34, of Newport News, and Antuan White, 26, of James City County, “exchanged words” around 10:45 p.m. inside the 7-Eleven at 5534 Centerville Road, police spokeswoman Stephanie Williams said.
A criminal complaint filed in Williamsburg-James City County General District Court says Galberth was in the 7-Eleven with another man that night. Both men wore blue bandannas folded over their left shoulders, which, through the accusing officer’s experience, can be an indicator of affiliation with the Crips street gang.
While Galberth and the other man were in the store, another “large” group of people entered, many of whom were wearing red bandannas and or other red clothing, the complaint says.
Red bandannas can be an indicator of affiliation with the Bloods street gang, documents state.
Police used footage from the store’s surveillance cameras to piece together what allegedly happened, the complaint says.
The two groups, including White and Galberth, exchanged words with each other, then Galberth and his associate left the store.
White and several other people from the large group left the store as well.. White then said something to Galberth after he got into his car with his associate and a woman.
As Galberth drove off, White and a person with him ducked down, and other uninvolved people in the parking lot ran in the opposite direction of Galberth’s car, which police believe indicates Galberth was shooting a firearm. the complaint says.
White pulled out a handgun and returned fire about one or two seconds after Galberth shot, police said.
Moments later, Galberth dropped off his passengers in the War Hill Green neighborhood, then drove from Centerville Road to Monticello Avenue, where police stopped Galberth and interviewed him about the incident at 7-Eleven.
Glaberth allegedly told police he was in the store when the group wearing red asking him if he was “banging,” meaning a part of a street gang. As they left the store, Galberth told police the people wearing red began “antagonizing” him and his associate, the complaint says.
Police found a Sig Sauer 9mm handgun in Galberth’s vehicle with four rounds missing from the magazine.
Officers and investigators arrived to find multiple shell casings outside the 7-Eleven store and spoke to multiple witnesses, but nobody involved in the shooting was still at the scene.
Galberth allegedly admitted to firing three or four rounds at the opposing group, police say.
The investigation is still active and ongoing.
Galberth was arrested Monday and is charged with attempted malicious wounding, discharging a firearm in public, discharging a firearm from a vehicle and participation in a criminal gang.
He is scheduled to appear at 1 p.m. Sept. 18 in Williamsburg-James City County General District Court.
Police are still looking for White, who is wanted on warrants including attempted malicious wounding, possession of a firearm by convicted felon, possession of a concealed weapon by convicted felon, discharging a firearm in public, shooting at an occupied vehicle and participation in a criminal gang.
Anyone with information on White’s whereabouts is asked to call police at 757-566-0112 or the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP. Callers to the Crime Line may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 if the information leads to an arrest.
