MARTINSVILLE, Va. – UPDATE
El Norteno, the restaurant where the deadly shooting happened on Feb. 5, lost its ABC license after officials did an investigation.
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This means the establishment can’t purchase or sell alcoholic beverages.
Police said this shooting began as an altercation at the bar area of the restaurant.
UPDATE
Virginia State Police are investigating a series of shootings that happened at a Mexican restaurant in Martinsville Friday night that left two people dead and two others in critical condition.
At about 10:30 p.m., an argument began at the El Norteno Restaurant’s bar area between several patrons. The argument developed into an altercation that resulted in a 23-year-old man and a 33-year-old man being shot and killed.
Police said a third man fled the restaurant on foot but was pursued by two armed men. The two men began shooting at the other man, which was heard by a Martinsville Police Officer who was on patrol nearby.
The Martinsville Police Officer responded to the shooting and approached as the two men were firing shots at the other man. The officer fired shots at the two armed men and struck one of them before the duo retreated to the restaurant.
Dozens of patrons and 20 restaurant employees were still inside the restaurant with the two shooters before law enforcement made entry and safely evacuated them from the scene.
Police located the two deceased men inside the restaurant from the initial shooting as well as one wounded male.
Both wounded men, one from outside and the other inside, were transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The bodies of the two deceased men were transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Roanoke for examination and autopsy and their identities are being withheld until all next of kin have been notified.
No police were injured in this incident.
Authorities said charges are pending.
UPDATE
The Martinville Police Department released more information regarding Friday night’s shooting that left multiple people hurt.
At about 10:34 p.m., one officer was on patrol when he heard several gunshots near El Norteno Restaurant located at 730 East Church Street.
Upon arrival, the officer saw several people with handguns actively shooting. When he confronted the people, they continued to fire their weapons and the officer returned fire.
Virginia State Police was called in to investigate the incident since a Martinsville officer was involved.
Martinsville Police said all questions about the incident should be directed to VSP.
ORIGINAL STORY
A shooting Friday night in Martinsville that involved a Martinsville police officer has left multiple people hurt, according to Martinsville Police Chief Eddie Cassady.
During a live stream on BTW21′s Facebook page, Cassady said officers responded to a report of shots fired at the Patrick Henry Mall at about 11pm. Cassady said people in the area were engaged in a gun battle, at which time an officer engaged those involved and discharged a weapon.
Cassady said multiple people were shot in the incident, but did not specify how many people were shot or if their injuries were related to the initial call. He also did not share the severity of the victims’ injuries.
Cassady said Virginia State Police will handle the investigation into this incident since it involved a Martinsville police officer. Cassady said he wanted to ensure the investigation was as transparent as possible.
Ten News reporter Shayne Dwyer arrived at the scene shortly after midnight.
WATCH LIVE: 10 News reporter Shayne Dwyer is on the scene in Martinsville where multiple people were shot tonight.
Posted by WSLS 10 / WSLS.com on Friday, February 5, 2021
Continue to check this story for updates.