CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Commonwealth’s Attorney Joe Platania is voicing serious concern over the rise in gun violence in Charlottesville, noting an unsettling pattern of younger, more sophisticated suspects who are often masked and heavily armed. In an interview with Jay James,  Platania shared his surprise at the volume of shell casings recovered from recent incidents, mentioning one scene with around 50 casings and four firearms, including automatic rifles. “I’ve never seen that in 25 years of doing this,” he said.

“And here’s another terrifying trend,” Platania continued. “They’re younger. They also are generally aware of all the video that’s out there, so they’re wearing masks and concealing their identity, making the job of law enforcement more difficult.” Platania underscored that these factors are making it increasingly challenging for law enforcement to maintain public safety in the face of rising gun violence.

Despite the significant amount of firepower, injuries remain relatively low—a fact Platania finds surprising, but one he warns may not last. “It’s only a matter of time before the city will see another fatal shooting,” he cautioned.

(pictured, firearms seized by City of Charlottesville police during an arrest)