Accomack violent crime increased slightly in 2025, remained below COVID years

By Linda Cicoira

      Statistics for Accomack County showed 75 violent crimes occurred in 2025, an increase compared to the previous year, when 71 incidents of murder, non-negligent manslaughter, aggravated assault, rape, and robbery occurred. The figures were down compared to 116 in 2021, 118 in 2022, and 110 in 2023, and were all part of a state police survey.

    Forty-eight violent crimes occurred at residences, 16 happened on roads, parking areas, or campsites, and five were committed at commercial establishments. Four violent crimes were committed at government or public buildings, and two were at other unspecified locations.

     Thirteen of the aggravated assault offenders were suspected of using alcohol; one was suspected of using another unspecified drug. Two of the rapists were suspected of using alcohol; one was suspected of using another drug.

     According to a chart, 41 violent crimes were reported in the daytime. Sundays had the most incidents with 13, followed by Fridays and Tuesdays, with seven incidents for each day. Monday nights were listed as a high violent-crime time with five, followed by Saturday nights with four, a chart also disclosed.

     A gun was used in 26 of the violent crimes. Nineteen involved personal weapons like “hands, fists, feet, arms, teeth, etc.” Fourteen of the cases did not specify the weapon. Ten involved a knife or other cutting instrument. In eight of the crimes, a weapon was not involved.

     In 40 cases, there were no injuries. Thirteen victims who were hurt had “apparent minor injuries,” five had broken bones, five had severe lacerations, four had gunshot wounds, six had major injuries, and two lost teeth. 

     There were four murders with a clearance rate of 50 percent in Accomack in 2025.

That figure was the same in 2024, according to the report. Three of the murders occurred at commercial places, and one was committed at a residence. Three of the murders were committed with a firearm. The other method was not listed in the report.

      All of the murders occurred during the day. Two were on a Thursday. The others were either on a Wednesday or a Friday.

     In two cases, it was unknown if there was a relationship between the victim and the suspect. In one case, a stranger committed the murder, and in another, it was an acquaintance, according to the report.

     Three of the victims were male. The race of two of the victims was listed as unknown. One of the other victims was black, and one was white. The victims varied in age. A chart showed one victim was between 18 and 24 years old, another was between 25 and 34, the third was between 55 and 65, and the last one was older than 65. 

     The two known offenders were male. One was white, and one was black. 

     Eight forcible rapes, forcible sodomies, and object sexual assaults were reported with a 12.5 percent clearance rate. The same number was reported in 2024. Four were committed at residences, two occurred at roadsides, parking lots, or camps, one happened at a government or public building, and one occurred at an unspecified area.     

     In two instances, physical weapons were used. Two others involved the use of unspecified weapons. Guns were not involved in four of the cases. Three victims had intimate relationships with the offenders. Two involved family and one was an acquaintance.

     All of the rape victims were female and under 25 years old. Four were between 10 and 17 years old. Four were white, three were black, and the race of one victim was listed as unknown. One victim had a possible internal injury.

    In one case, the offender’s age, sex, and race were not known. In the other seven cases, the offender was male. Four were white, and two were black.

     There were six robberies in 2025 with a clearance rate of nearly 67 percent. That offense increased by 20 percent compared to 2024. Four robberies were committed at a residence, two of the incidents occurred at a government or other public buildings, and one was committed at a roadside, parking lot, or campsite. A knife or other cutting tool was used in two of the robberies, a gun was used in two, and a personal weapon was used in two.

     Two robberies occurred on a Monday night. Two happened during the daylight hours on a Monday or a Friday. Two of the offenders were acquaintances, and two strangers committed the rest. Five of the victims were male. Four were white, and two were black. One of the victims had “an apparent minor injury.” The rest were not physically harmed.

      Six of the robbers were under 25 years old. Nine were male. Seven were black. Two were white. Nothing is known about two of the offenders.

      About 1,000 portable or electronic communication devices were taken. None were recovered. About 500 items of clothing or other personal possessions were taken, all of which were recovered. In 50 instances, money was taken and not recovered. Food items were taken in 80 cases and were also not recovered.

     There were 57 aggravated assaults with a clearance rate of about 67 percent, an increase of 5.56 percent compared to 2024. Forty assaults occurred at a residence. Thirteen were committed on roadsides, in parking lots, or at campsites. In 21 of the incidents, a firearm was used. Personal weapons were used in 15 assaults, while “other weapons” were listed as being used in 11 cases, and eight incidents involved knives or cutting tools. In four cases, no weapon was used. 

      Thirteen assaults occurred on a Sunday. In 19 of the cases, the victim and offender were acquaintances. Twelve cases involved family members, and 12 cases involved people who had intimate relationships. Six of the cases involved strangers.

      Twenty-nine victims were male, and 28 were female. Twenty-nine were white. Twenty-seven were black. The race of the other victims was not known. Three were younger than 10 years old. Fourteen were between 10 and 17. Nine were between 18 and 24. Eleven were between 25 and 34. Six were between 35 and 44. Thirteen were older than 45. The age of one victim was unknown. 

       Twenty-eight of the victims had no injuries. A chart showed 12 had apparent minor injuries, five had broken bones, two had possible internal injuries, five had severe lacerations, one had a gunshot wound, six had major injuries, and two lost teeth. 

     Thirty-six of the offenders were males of various ages. Nine were female. Twenty-one were white, and 23 were black. 

     The cleared offenses included 20 aggravated assaults, three robberies, and one each of criminal sexual contact, simple assault, burglary, destruction or damage of property, and other larcenies. 

     Twenty-one of those arrested were males of various ages. Five were female. Thirteen were white. Twelve were black. One suspect’s race was listed as unknown.  

     Some of the crimes listed in the report overlapped with other incidents.

     Check back with us for Northampton County figures.