CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Charlottesville Police Chief Michael Kochis says his department is making “a lot of progress” in the ongoing investigation into the July 4th shooting in Orangedale.

“It’s still a very active, very fluid investigation,” Kochis said on Morning News, noting that building a prosecutable case takes time due to the legal process of acquiring digital data from platforms across the country. 

Though data shows gun crime is down this summer, Kochis acknowledged that many residents remain focused on the Orangedale case, where two children were among those injured. During a recent meeting with the Fifeville neighborhood association, the chief said the community wasn’t interested in statistics. “They want to know… how the hell do we have an 8-year-old and 11-year-old shot on Orangedale Ave.,” Kochis said, adding, “they care, they want to be involved in solutions.” 

Amid heightened scrutiny, Kochis also spoke about maintaining morale and unity within his department. “The first thing is you don’t bring politics into that building… Making sure we have a clear vision and mission and staying focused to that all the time. There’s always going to be noise around us,” he said. He praised his officers’ bravery, recalling how they rushed victims to the ER in their own vehicles.

“They saved lives that day,” Kochis said, underscoring his optimism for the department’s continued service to Charlottesville. 

Listen to the full conversation here: