News in 5: W&M Football moves on to FCS quarterfinals after record-breaking win

Good morning!

We can expect gloomy and unseasonably warm weather again today, according to Meteorologist Myles Henderson of WTKR News 3. Sunshine and cooler temperatures will move in starting tomorrow, and we’ll see daytime highs drop down into the low 50s for the weekend.

If you’re looking for a family-friendly holiday activity to do tonight, Midtown Row in Williamsburg is hosting a Christmas event – featuring hot cocoa and cookies, live music, a visit from Santa and more – from 5-7 pm (weather permitting). The event is free and open to the public.

I want to thank each of you who entered the drawing to win tickets to the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Pops concert. The winner was notified by email, but I received many wonderful submissions, and I hope to hear from you again during future giveaways.

Now to the news.

-Christin

1. William & Mary’s Tribe Football team is heading to the FCS quarterfinals amid a historic season.

• William & Mary’s Tribe Football team will advance to the quarterfinals after defeating the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs 54-14 during their first appearance in the FCS playoffs in seven years.
• The team’s stunning 40-point victory at Zable Stadium Saturday shattered the school’s previous record. William & Mary also set new records in points, total yards, rushing yards and forced turnovers. The Tribe is having a truly historic year after posting a 10-1 regular season performance, the best in its 129-year history.
• The Tribe (#5) will face off against the Montana State Bobcats (#4) on Friday, Dec. 9 at 10:15 pm ET in Bozeman, MT. The game will be televised on ESPN2, according to a Tribe Athletics news release. Ticket information is available at tribeathletics.com.

2. A Newport News man who committed a double murder in 2017 has received three life sentences.

• Amos Arroyo, 36, was sentenced Friday in connection with a domestic double homicide that occurred in Newport News more than five years ago.
  • Arroyo was given three life sentences, including two for murder in the first degree and one for armed burglary, according to reporting by John Cowley, assignment editor for WTKR News 3. He was also sentenced to additional time for other charges, including two counts of felony child neglect (10 years), two gun charges (8 years) and malicious shooting in an occupied dwelling (10 years), for a total active prison time of three life sentences plus 28 years.
• In September, Arroyo was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend, 29-year-old Patricia Joseph and her father, 67-year-old Jessie Barnes. Joseph and Arroyo had two sons together, according to police, and both children were in the home at the time of the shootings.
• The slayings happened at a home on York River Road on July 30, 2017, shortly after 6 pm. Court documents reveal that Joseph, her boyfriend of several months and the two boys she shared with Arroyo – ages 6 and 1 – were all hanging out watching television that Sunday evening. Arroyo suddenly appeared, barged into the home and shot Joseph in front of the children. He then chased Joseph’s father into a bathroom and shot him, too. Testimony from Joseph’s older son, who is now 11, was crucial in the conviction.
• During the trial, Arroyo claimed he had been drinking that dayand “snapped.” He said he originally planned to shoot himself in front of Joseph but ultimately shot Joseph and her father, instead. Text messages reviewed by the court showed that Joseph and Arroyo had a conversation earlier that day in which Arroyo said he no longer wanted to participate in his sons’ lives. “I’m walking away,” he said in one of the messages, referring to the shared custody agreement they had.
• Arroyo testified that after the killings, he fled Newport News and attempted to live his life on the run. According to The Daily Press, Arroyo stayed in a small town in Texas under an alias, “Aren James Peter.” There, he worked for a local church ministry for several months before finally turning himself in. Arroyo reportedly expressed remorse during the hearing but suggested he may appeal, according to his attorney.
• The below video, which originally aired on WAVY News in 2017, includes a 9-1-1 call by a witness who described the deadly scene. Some may find the content disturbing.

3. Historic Jamestown’s annual 17th-century-themed holiday event returns this weekend.

• Jamestown Rediscovery is gearing up to once again present its annual holiday program, “At Christmas Be Mery,” A Special Evening at Historic Jamestowne. Visitors will have the opportunity to step back in time to 1621 to join the colony’s newly arrived Governor, Sir Francis Wyatt, for an early Virginia Christmas celebration.
• The program will feature costumed interpreters, madrigal singers, caroling and a bonfire. Attendees will be able to see Jamestown Island aglow with firelight and will also learn about the traditions we now associate with the Christmas season, such as hanging evergreens, caroling and observing the winter solstice.

“For the first 20 years of the colony, life in Jamestown was extraordinarily difficult, but records suggest that colonists continued celebrating Christmas like they had back home in England or other parts of Europe,” said Willie Balderson, Director of Living History & Historic Trades. “The confluence of different cultures and religions coming together in Europe created unique holiday traditions many people practice today, and I hope guests will come away with a renewed zeal to take part in activities that are literally hundreds of years old.”

• “At Christmas Be Mery” will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10 at both 5:30 and 7:30 pm, but the earlier time has already sold out. A few spots are still available for the 7:30 pm program. Tickets cost $25.00, must be purchased in advance and are available on Historic Jamestowne’s website.

3. A James City County teen who was reported missing in 2021 was found in Newport News last week.

• A teen from James City County who went missing in September of last year turned himself in to police last week. Angelo Graham, 15, had been considered endangered since disappearing on September 13, 2021. Graham’s father spent months carrying out extensive search efforts, including hiring a private investigator, reaching out to the media and sharing flyers throughout the Peninsula.
• While few details have been made available about the boy’s disappearance, investigators with the James City County Police Department previously said they believed the boy ran away from home to be with his mother, who lives in Newport News. According to WTKR News 3, the boy’s mother, identified as Lavetta Graham, is a convicted felon. Court records show she served time in prison for attacking Graham’s father, her ex-husband, ten years ago.
• JCCPD and Newport News Police have been working together to return Angelo to his home in James City County.

5. State police have identified the suspect in a fatal hit-and-run in Williamsburg.

• Virginia State Police have identified a man who allegedly killed a pedestrian in a hit-and-run in Williamsburg on Veterans Day weekend and then fled the scene.
  • Martin Morse Wooster, 64, of Takoma Park, Maryland, was struck and killed while trying to cross Bypass Road in front of Homewood Suites on the evening of Nov. 13. State police said the driver, who was operating a white sedan and traveling eastbound, hit the man and then continued driving.
  • A heavy presence of police and emergency responders arrived at the scene soon after the accident, and the victim’s personal belongings could be seen strewn about in the street. Wooster was taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries.
• The name of the suspect has not yet been released. Michelle Anaya, a spokesperson for the Virginia State Police, said the incident remains under investigation and VSP is working with the Commonwealth’s Attorney. Charges are pending.

6. The City of Williamsburg is set to host a “State of the City” event both online and in-person this week.

• The City of Williamsburg will present its biennial State of the City Address on Thursday, Dec. 8. The event will take place during a public reception and will also be streamed online.
• The in-person reception will be held at the Stryker Center located at 412 N. Boundary St. and will feature hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer. The pre-taped address will begin airing at 6:15 pm.
• Those who want to tune in from home can do so at 6:30 pm. The address will stream on the City’s Facebook and YouTube pages and will air on Cox Cable’s WMSBGTV-48.

“For our first in-person State of the City since 2018, City Council wanted to keep the video format first introduced in 2020 without losing the camaraderie and fellowship of the prior events,” Mayor Douglas Pons said. “We invite the community to join us at the Stryker Center for food, conversation, and a look at the City’s vision for the next two years and beyond.”

• In November, the City approved its 2023-2024 Goals, Initiatives and Outcomes after months of work. The upcoming address will discuss this roadmap, which will be carried out over the next two years. This will be the ninth State of the City event. The first aired in 2006.

Lowest Gas Prices Today

Local Covid-19 Update

VDH reports that Covid-19 cases are on the rise again in Virginia this week, with new cases up by 56% (+9,149) after the Thanksgiving holiday. Much of the metro Richmond area, including Charles City and New Kent, is back in the “medium” community transmission zone, per the CDC’s updated map released on Dec. 1. Covid hospitalizations in the state are also up by 40% compared to last week, according to WTVR 6. As of Friday, there were 651 hospitalized patients confirmed positive for Covid-19, compared to 464 the week before.

In the National News

• Congress to Rescind Covid-19 Vaccine Mandate for Military: The Covid-19 vaccine mandate for U.S troops is expected to be rescinded in Congress as part of a defense bill heading for a vote this week, the AP reports. While the majority of troops are already vaccinated, the mandate has been controversial, particularly because of concerns that it harmed retention and recruitment efforts. The bill is one of the last pieces of legislation the Congress is expected to approve before adjourning.
• Second $50M lawsuit filed in Chesapeake Mass Shooting Case: A second former Walmart employee has filed a $50 million lawsuit against the company after the Chesapeake mass shooting on Nov. 22, according to WAVY News. Filed on behalf of James Kelly, the suit claims Walmart was negligent in its hiring and is liable for the shooting because it failed to protect its employees. It further alleges the suspect had “a reputation among Walmart employees” for being “a mean and cruel supervisor,” but says the company refused to intervene in spite of repeated complaints.
• Warnock Wins in Georgia: Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock defeated Republican Herschel Walker by a slim margin in Georgia’s Senate runoff race Tuesday. The AP estimates that Warnock took 51.38% of the vote, while Walker won 48.62%, with 99% of precincts reporting in. The win means Democrats will have a 51-49 Senate majority, but the government will remain divided, with Republicans having flipped the control of the House during the mid-terms.

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