Norfolk Arrests Teen After Flamethrower and Fire at West Ghent Street Takeover

Overview

• A large unsanctioned takeover at Redgate Avenue and Greenway Court involved about 75 people, cars doing donuts, fireworks, a masked person using an apparent flamethrower, and at least one person pouring what looked like gasoline during Sunday night’s incident.
• Multiple callers reported the disturbance and officers were initially sent but redirected to a higher-priority weapon call, with an officer arriving about 18 minutes after the first 911 calls, according to Norfolk Police.
• Norfolk police have released photos of people they say were involved and are asking the public to submit tips and video through their evidence portal and Crime Line.
• Detectives arrested 19-year-old Isaiah Duncan-Simmons on Wednesday and charged him with disorderly conduct and carelessly damaging property by fire while prosecutors review additional possible charges such as reckless driving and contributing to the delinquency of minors.
• The West Ghent Civic League scheduled a Rapid Response meeting and urged neighbors to share footage as fire officials warned that the neighborhood’s close houses and recent drought made the takeover’s open flames and gasoline use especially dangerous.