News

Actions

Police nab convicted felon for deadly Northside double stabbing

Posted at 10:59 AM, Dec 20, 2013
and last updated 2013-12-20 23:27:29-05

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - Police have arrested a man followinga deadly stabbing on Chamberlayne Avenue Thursday afternoon.

Benjamin P. Dancy, 50, of Tyler Street, was charged with:

  • Two counts of robbery
  • Two counts of use of a firearm during the commission of a felony
  • Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
  • Possession of ammunition by a convicted felon
  • Credit card fraud

Dancy also has charges dating back to 1982 which include attempted robbery and burglary charges, drug possession and malicious wounding. He is slated to appear before a judge Monday.

When police arrived at the Chamberlayne Gardens apartment complex Thursday afternoon about 4 p.m., officers found two women who had been stabbed.

A security guard now watches over the Chamberlayne Garden apartments following a deadly stabbing Thursday around 4 p.m.

"It was very traumatizing because I never seen anything like that,” said resident Marbesse Barlow, who tried to help save one of the victims.

"We found her in the bathroom and stuff. So, I was on the phone with the policeman and the ambulance they were telling me how to check her pulse and give her mouth to mouth,” said Barlow.

However, police said 44-year-old Della C. Scott, 44, of Cumberland, succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. The second victim, a 44-year-old female, was listed in stable condition at last check.

Barlow told CBS 6 News' Sandra Jones that the women worked hard to change the Northside neighborhood.

"They're trying to make it look neater,” Barlow said. "A better and cleaner place for us."

Less than 24 hours after the crime, Richmond police arrested Dancy following tips from the public.

"We had a lot of Crimestopper reports come in, a lot of calls from citizens and we just ask that, that continues to happen. We're not looking for any other individuals at this point,” said Major Steve Drew with Richmond police.

Drew called what happened an isolated incident saying robbery is the motive. However, he would not talk about what detectives found at the scene.

"We need to hold back some of that and let the detectives continue the process exactly what they have and how it plays into what we recovered,” said Drew.

Neighbor Jeremiah Goode, who saw the suspect go into the leasing office just before the stabbing, said he didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

However, Barlow believes management should have had better security in place.

"It's good that they have it now, but I wish they had done it sooner because maybe this would've been prevented,” Barlow said.

Anyone with information that could help police is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 804- 780-1000.

RELATED: