Roanoke man charged with murder for city's 29th reported homicide in 2023

Police charged a Roanoke man with second-degree murder after another man was found dead in the middle of Orange Avenue Northwest Tuesday evening.

The shooting brings the city's annual homicide count to 29. Twenty-five of those fatalities have been gun-related.

Roanoke police said in a news release that 44-year-old Jacob K. Foskey and the victim knew each other. They believe the shooting "stemmed from an altercation between the victim, another individual, and Foskey," according to the release.

At about 10:50 p.m. Tuesday, the city's 911 call center told police about shots fired reports in the 2200 block of Orange Avenue.

Responding officers found an unresponsive man lying in the roadway with what appeared to be critical gunshot wounds, according to the release.

Police have not named the man, who Roanoke Fire-EMS Department personnel pronounced deceased on the scene.

Investigators found evidence on the shooting scene that identified Foskey as the suspect, according to the release. Officers located his vehicle, performed a traffic stop and took him into custody. He was taken to the Roanoke Police Department to speak with detectives.

As their investigation continues, police ask that anyone who knows something about Tuesday night's shooting call 540-344-8500 or send a text beginning with "RoanokePD" to 274637. The department says both calls and texts can remain anonymous.

Emma Coleman (540) 981-3198

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