Gang Ties To Kroger Blaze Probed

BY CLAIRE GALOFARO
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

BRISTOL, Va. – City police confirmed Monday that the May fire at the Kroger store is believed to have been gang-related.

They’ve charged an 18-year-old Abingdon man, Kenneth Roger McCoy, of Mahogany Drive, with accessory to arson, conspiracy to commit arson and gang recruitment of a juvenile.

Last week, two teenage girls, who police say actually lit the May 21 blaze, were charged. Their names were not released.

While the fire sent dozens of shoppers to the grocery store’s exits, there were no injuries and only minor damage, mostly from the store’s sprinkler system. The store was up and running less than 12 hours later.

One girl, 13, was charged with arson and conspiracy. A 17-year-old believed to be her accomplice was charged with principle in the second degree arson and conspiracy.

McCoy is awaiting a July 23 hearing at the city jail, where he is being held without bond, said Detective DeeDra Branson.

According to the criminal complaint filed by Branson, McCoy is the self-described leader of a local faction of a national gang.

“It certainly seems like the risk to the general public has increased,” Branson said. “This is still an ongoing case, there will definitely be some additional investigating.”

In his statement, McCoy described the arson as a gang initiation. He said he enlisted the two girls and a third juvenile to set fire to the cosmetics aisle of Kroger, the complaint states. Afterward, McCoy told police he presented the 13-year-old with a bandana symbolizing her acceptance into the gang.

Detective Vicki Byrd, who heads the city Police Department’s gang task force, said the fire is the first dangerous offense they’ve seen from McCoy’s gang.

“This particular set has not been around very long,” she said. “This might nip it in the bud.”

Byrd and Branson declined to identify the particular gang affiliation, saying publicity tends to jump-start criminal activity.

McCoy’s crew is one of a number of local gangs that copy-cat a national gang in colors and name, but without official ties or affiliation, they said.

“It’s like you opened a McDonald’s, but didn’t pay franchise fees,” Byrd said.

She said the rise in Bristol’s gang activity is part of a national trend, primarily in small, unsuspecting communities.

“It’s more a gang presence than it is a gang problem,” Bryd said. “Where you’ve got drugs, you’ve got gangs. Where you’ve got gangs, you’ve got drugs. It is so difficult to stamp out because the gang is like a surrogate family. It’s a culture that governs almost everything they do.” 

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