NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Newport News police said somebody killed a man who used a wheelchair to get around his neighborhood in Newport News.
Chief Steve Drew talked about the death of 31-year-old Andre Grady Monday afternoon during a news conference. Drew stressed that the department's priority was to find the person or people who murdered Grady.
A search party made up of members of the Southeast Community found Grady's body Saturday, December 14 under a home in the 800 block of 24th Street.
David Wilson with Us 4 Us Foundation said tracks from Grady's wheelchair led the group to the location where it found a board covering a hole.
"We all looked, and we ended up seeing his shoes and legs," said Wilson.
Grady's mother, Latanya Grady, was out with Wilson and others who were searching for her son.
"He didn't have an enemy," Latanya said. "He was nothing but love."
Grady was Latanya's oldest child. He was paralyzed in a drive-by shooting more than 20 years ago.
Latanya last talked to Grady on December 12. She reported him missing the following day.
"This was a heinous act that never should have happened," Drew stated. The chief said that investigators collected enough evidence to prove that it was a case of murder and that officers were pursuing some "strong leads."
Wilson is pushing for the development of an "Andre Alert." It would let people know that a disabled person or a person with mental health issues is missing. It would also require police to start searching for that person immediately when an alert issued rather than waiting for 24 to 48 hours after a missing person report is filed.
Wilson told 13News Now he already has support from a couple of members of Newport News City Council.
There is a GoFundMe for Grady. You can donate here.
Anyone with information about Grady's murder can call Crime Line at 1–888-LOCK-U-UP. (1–888–562–5887) or go online at P3tips.com.