On Nov. 10 at approximately 10:10 p.m., officers responded to the 200 block of Portmarnoch after receiving several reports of gunshots in the area.

Officers arrived to find a female flagging them down indicating that a family member was having a mental health issue and was armed and inside the residence with a 22-year-old female who was known to him. The subject, identified as Kenneth Alan Wilder, a 23-year-old James City County resident, was reportedly armed with an AR-15 rifle and a 9mm handgun. Wilder was refusing to leave the residence or to allow the female victim inside to leave.

The preliminary investigation revealed that Wilder had fired multiple shots outside of the residence.

Negotiators made contact with the subject throughout the night. At approximately 3:30 a.m., officers were able to assist the female victim out of the residence. She was uninjured.

During negotiations, Wilder fired a weapon again inside the residence.

Wilder exited the residence at approximately 7:25 a.m. wearing a bulletproof vest and ballistic helmet and armed with the AR-15, 9mm handgun, a knife and a hatchet. He was taken into custody at that time. He was transported to Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail (VPRJ) charged with abduction. At the time of this release, Wilder is being held without bond.

This investigation is ongoing.

Officers from Newport News Police Department and Deputies from York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office provided mutual aid during the incident.

There are no reported injuries.


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By vascope