CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Charlottesville Police will have an increased presence in the West Haven neighborhood following three shooting incidents there in the past week, CPD Chief of Police Michael Kochis told Cville Right Now on Wednesday. Police are investigating the possibility that at least two of the incidents could be related, stemming from neighborhood disagreements.

“Why it’s happening and who’s involved, we have a pretty good idea,” Kochis said. “We do believe they’re kids, early adults or juveniles that are involved in these beefs that they have, whether it’s one street to another, or some petty beef that started online. They’re just driving and shooting. It’s extremely dangerous.”

Kochis said the investigation into the three incidents in the 800 block of Hardy Dr. – one on Aug. 21, one Aug. 22 and one Monday – is ongoing but police suspect at least two of the cases are related.

Police are hoping Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority surveillance video may help identify suspects in the cases. CRHA owns 376 units of public housing, including in the 800 block of Hardy Dr., the West Haven neighborhood.

In Monday’s case, two masked suspects in a dark-colored SUV fired gunshots from their vehicle around 7:24 p.m. No injuries were reported.

On Aug. 22, a 15-year-old girl was struck by gunfire, according to a CPD release, at approximately 1:51 a.m.

For now, Kochis said police are working not only to locate the shooters, but to continue to explore the reasons behind the incidents.

And, of course, CPD would like to prevent any future shootings.

“It is a concern,” Kochis said. “We’re going to do our part. At the end of the day, we are not the solution to gun violence. We are a piece of it. We have a lot of conversations in our community about trying to get upstream and addressing the root causes, the issues that lead to gun violence.”