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A Virginia community has been left grief-stricken following a shooting that killed three women and injured two others, police say.

On Wednesday, officials with the Norfolk Police Department responded to reports of a shooting on the 800 block of Whitaker Lane shortly after 6 p.m, according to apress release.

Police said in areleasethat three women — Detra R. Brown, 42, Nicole Lovewine, 45, and Sara E. Costine, 44, —were pronounced dead at the scene and two other women, age 39 and 19, were taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. Both women are expected to recover.

According to the Norfolk Police Department, the shooting was domestic-related and Palmer wastaken into custodyaround 10:25 p.m.

Palmer was charged with three counts of second-degree murder, two counts of malicious wounding, and five counts of use of a firearm. He is being held without bond in the Norfolk County Jail, according to police.

Norfolk Police Department

Ziontay B. R. Palmer

“The suspect shot one victim and as the community was trying to render aid, the coward shoots them,” he told the outlet.

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Montezuma Pride, the cousin of one of the victims, told WTKR that she was a mother, describing her as a “strong, kind woman.”

“She didn’t bother anybody.” he told the outlet. “We’re just trying to figure out why. Why does this happen in this community? Innocent people? Three women? This has to stop.”

The shooting is still under investigation.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

source: people.com