Vinton, VA – An armed robbery and shooting Tuesday afternoon at a local tobacco shop has residents of Vinton raising renewed concerns about crime creeping in from nearby Southeast Roanoke.
The incident occurred around 2 p.m. at Tobacco Town #2, located at 400 W. Virginia Avenue, just over the city line where Southeast Roanoke blends into the Town of Vinton. According to the Vinton Police Department, two suspects entered the store and, during the course of the robbery, shot the store clerk.
Sources close to the clerk, including friends and local social media chatter, indicate that the employee was struck in the hand and is expected to recover after receiving treatment at a nearby hospital. The injury has been classified as non-life-threatening.
Police confirmed that two individuals have been taken into custody in connection with the robbery, but have yet to release their names or details about potential charges. Authorities emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the community at this time.
The location of the robbery—just blocks from the Roanoke city line—has reignited concerns among Vinton residents. Many believe that rising crime, homelessness, and drug-related activity in parts of Southeast Roanoke are beginning to spill into their quieter town.
One local resident commented on Facebook: “We love our small town feel here in Vinton, but we’ve all seen what’s creeping in from across the border. It’s getting too close for comfort.”
Vinton town officials have yet to release a statement on the incident, but conversations among residents suggest increasing pressure for local leaders to address public safety and work with Roanoke officials to control the spread of urban crime into surrounding communities.