BLACKSTONE -
You can describe Blackstone as the Mayberry of Virginia. A quiet little town that is now seeing some bit city crime.
In the last few weeks, it's gotten so bad, some living in town say they aren't going out at night.
Police believe they know who the suspects are behind part of the crime wave.
In fact, they are working thousands of dollars in overtime, searching for twin brothers.
The Blackstone Police Chief says they're well known to the department and are behind part of the crime spree that has some town residents now carrying a gun for protection.
The wave of violence includes homes and cars shot up, people assaulted and one man pistol whipped.
Blackstone is an idyllic town where just about everyone knows everybody.
But the serenity of living in Blackstone is disappearing in a streak of violence.
Senirtra Fowlkes has lived in Blackstone her whole life and now fears going out "For this to go on, I don't even know what our town is coming to now" she says while gassing up her car.
What's happening is a string of violence, so bad, many have changed how they live.
Some are too scared to even give there name for an interview but share a common fear for their safety.
"Never bothered to carry a handgun till now. I carry one all the time. I just feel I need that for my protection" says a local who has only been in town about 2 years.
But this woman who has lived in town 49 years says her daily routine is now changed because of the violence. "When I get off work at 6 o'clock, I go in. Whatever I have to do, I do it before I go home and then I'm in the house we don't even come outside. I don't come outside"
Some of the violence includes assaults and shootings.
One of the homes hit by gunfire is a young man's grand mother's home. While he won't give his name he does point to the bullet hole and says "My grandma sleeps right here. Her bed is right here. This is where the bullet hit"
Chief Nicholas Kuzmiak has been Blackstone Police Chief for 7 years and says just after the young mans grand mothers house was hit by gun fire "About 2 hours later on the same evening, we had another drive by of a dwelling on Doswell Street".
Investigators say twins Lionell Lee and Lionel Leo Hardy are to blame for much of the trouble but not all of it. Convicted felons, the twins as they call themselves are well known to area officers.
"We consider them to be armed and dangerous" says the Chief.
Part of the violence stems from retaliation between two families.
"We know who did it though. Um, if the police aren't going to be able to handle it, somebody got to handle it" says the young man whose grandmother's house was hit by bullets.
And the Police Chief fears the retaliation can leave towns people caught in the middle "Innocent people could be struck by gunfire" he says outside the police station.
Another local resident says "Right now I think the town is unsafe" and she's not alone.
Local Police consider the pair so dangerous they've called in a Virginia State Police Tactical Team to help search.
Right now, Lionell Lee Hardy and Lionel Leo Hardy are wanted for malicious wounding and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
More charges are expected.
The twin's sister is currently under arrest police say for her role in one of the assaults.
Police ask if you have any information about the Hardy Twins to call Nottoway Crime Solvers at 434-645-7111.
In the last few weeks, it's gotten so bad, some living in town say they aren't going out at night.
Police believe they know who the suspects are behind part of the crime wave.
In fact, they are working thousands of dollars in overtime, searching for twin brothers.
The Blackstone Police Chief says they're well known to the department and are behind part of the crime spree that has some town residents now carrying a gun for protection.
The wave of violence includes homes and cars shot up, people assaulted and one man pistol whipped.
Blackstone is an idyllic town where just about everyone knows everybody.
But the serenity of living in Blackstone is disappearing in a streak of violence.
Senirtra Fowlkes has lived in Blackstone her whole life and now fears going out "For this to go on, I don't even know what our town is coming to now" she says while gassing up her car.
What's happening is a string of violence, so bad, many have changed how they live.
Some are too scared to even give there name for an interview but share a common fear for their safety.
"Never bothered to carry a handgun till now. I carry one all the time. I just feel I need that for my protection" says a local who has only been in town about 2 years.
But this woman who has lived in town 49 years says her daily routine is now changed because of the violence. "When I get off work at 6 o'clock, I go in. Whatever I have to do, I do it before I go home and then I'm in the house we don't even come outside. I don't come outside"
Some of the violence includes assaults and shootings.
One of the homes hit by gunfire is a young man's grand mother's home. While he won't give his name he does point to the bullet hole and says "My grandma sleeps right here. Her bed is right here. This is where the bullet hit"
Chief Nicholas Kuzmiak has been Blackstone Police Chief for 7 years and says just after the young mans grand mothers house was hit by gun fire "About 2 hours later on the same evening, we had another drive by of a dwelling on Doswell Street".
Investigators say twins Lionell Lee and Lionel Leo Hardy are to blame for much of the trouble but not all of it. Convicted felons, the twins as they call themselves are well known to area officers.
"We consider them to be armed and dangerous" says the Chief.
Part of the violence stems from retaliation between two families.
"We know who did it though. Um, if the police aren't going to be able to handle it, somebody got to handle it" says the young man whose grandmother's house was hit by bullets.
And the Police Chief fears the retaliation can leave towns people caught in the middle "Innocent people could be struck by gunfire" he says outside the police station.
Another local resident says "Right now I think the town is unsafe" and she's not alone.
Local Police consider the pair so dangerous they've called in a Virginia State Police Tactical Team to help search.
Right now, Lionell Lee Hardy and Lionel Leo Hardy are wanted for malicious wounding and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
More charges are expected.
The twin's sister is currently under arrest police say for her role in one of the assaults.
Police ask if you have any information about the Hardy Twins to call Nottoway Crime Solvers at 434-645-7111.
