CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — A Chesapeake daycare with children inside was struck by gunfire Tuesday afternoon on Airline Boulevard, leaving shattered glass and shattered emotions.
Chesapeake Police said no children were injured when the shots were fired around 4:45 p.m. Tuesday at the Lake Ahoy Shopping center.
There was a initial report of two people who had been shot, but first responders were unable to find any victims, according to a Chesapeake police spokesman.
What police did find was nearly 40 evidence markers and two businesses with blown out windows. One was the occupied daycare: Small Voices Academy. The other was Grace Worship Center.
Chesapeake Daycare shooting, May 24, 2022 (WAVY Photo- Chris Omahen) 
Chesapeake Daycare shooting, May 24, 2022 (WAVY Photo- Brett Hall) 
Chesapeake Daycare shooting, May 24, 2022 (WAVY Photo- Brett Hall)
Tim Chamberlin was doing some contract work in one of the shopping center suites when his mind thought the worst.
“That many rounds in that many it sounded like ‘blrrrrrrrrrr’ ya know. It sounded like a Rambo movie out back. It was crazy,” said Chamberlin. He said the shots came from what sounded like a semi-automatic weapon.
“Then when I come around the corner and I see this. it’s like. Gosh. What is going on? What is going on?” Chamberlin said. “It broke my heart to see those children coming out walk by their parent, whoever walked them to their cars or whatever.”
Other nearby business owners said if it was a normal day, the daycare’s children would have been out playing on the playground.
A dance studio owner said she canceled her classes after the shooting happened. The daycare management wasn’t immediately available for comment.
Police said they don’t believe the daycare was the target. It’s worth noting the shooting occurred just doors down from the city’s new CARES Resource Outreach Center, meant to help curb violence.