PETERSBURG, Va. -- The family of a father of four and popular tattoo artist is searching for answers after a fatal double shooting in Petersburg Thursday night.
Leon Lyle, 34, of Petersburg, was shot and killed Thursday night around the 900 block of Augusta Avenue, according to Petersburg Police. The shooting was reported at about 10:41 p.m.
Leon Lyle
"Police arrived at the scene and found two adult male victims with gunshot wounds," according to a Petersburg Police spokesperson.
Lyle was pronounced dead at the scene. A second shooting victim was flown to VCU Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, police said.
Details about the circumstances leading up to the shooting have not yet been released.
Leon Scott, Lyle's father, was searching the area where his son was killed, hoping to find additional clues Friday morning.
"I came over here to see was it something [police] missed or something I can see," Scott said. "Or somebody that knows something. I might catch that person walking... and just through [unintelligible] or conversation.”
Scott told WTVR CBS 6 reporter Ashley Lewis that he identified his son's body for police at the scene.
"Just let me put eyes on my son, so they asked me if I was OK I walked over there," Scott said. "They let me see him and I told them it was him.”
Scott remembered his son was a father of four who was a popular tattoo artist as well as a rapper known as "Torch."
Leon Scott searches for clues.
“He was loved by a lot of people and there is a lot of people that’s around in this area that got his ink on him," Scott said. "Like his arm, you see, all he did was tattoos.”
Scott believes his son knew his killer.
"Somebody you know or don’t know can’t get close enough to you," Scott explained. "It had to be somebody they knew. They allowed him to get into the backseat of their car, [so] it had to be somebody that they knew.”
Scott is struggling to figure out how to best to tell his four grandchildren they will never see their father again. He wishes he could trade places with his son.
“If I had my opportunity take his place, I would, I would,” he said.
The family is planning a vigil to remember Lyle.
Witnesses can send news tips, photo, and video here.
A GoFundMe was created for Lyle, by the family.
If anyone has any information concerning this incident, or saw or heard anything please contact Det. Robert Ferguson at 804-732-4222 or the Petersburg/Dinwiddie Crime Solvers at 804-861-1212 or text the keyword pdcash followed by the tip and send to 274637.
