VBPD Makes Arrests in Fatal Shooting in Less Than Nine Hours

On November 10, 2025, at 5:25 p.m., the Virginia Beach Emergency Communications and Citizen Services (ECCS) received a call for a person suffering from a gunshot wound in the 900 block of Thousand Oaks Drive. Officers from the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) responded to the scene and located the victim, Markel Alexander Cephas (M/34) of Chester Virginia suffering from a gunshot injury. Cephas was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Through the course of the investigation, VBPD detectives identified Roberto Amir Inniss (M/19) of Newport News as the suspect. Utilizing investigative tools and technology, including Flock Safety License Plate Readers, detectives were able to quickly develop leads that led to Inniss’ apprehension, with the assistance of the Chesapeake Police Department, within nine hours from the time of the incident. 

Inniss is charged with murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.

"The integration of real-time data and advanced technology, coupled with the great work of our detectives, was absolutely instrumental in the swift apprehension of the suspect,” said Chief Paul W. Neudigate. “Our officers were able to use these tools to quickly cross-reference information and assist in locating our suspect, ensuring a safer community in a fraction of the time it would have taken with traditional methods.”

 

This incident is being investigated by the VBPD Detective Bureau. Anyone with information is asked to contact VBPD at (757) 385-4101 or anonymously through Crime Solvers at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or P3Tips.com.

(Note: The charges mentioned in this press release are accusations, and the arrested individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.)