In the early morning hours of July 7, 2024, a large house party in the 1400 block of Rivermont Heights in Martinsville, Virginia, turned tragic. Amidst a gathering of an estimated 100 to 200 people, a fight broke out, leading to gunfire. When the violence subsided, two individuals were found with gunshot wounds. One of the victims, 19-year-old Iviyan T. Dandridge, a female resident of Martinsville, was rushed to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The second victim was treated for their injuries and subsequently released.
Iviyan, who was reportedly four months pregnant at the time of her death, was described by her family as a compassionate and hardworking young woman. She had been working as a Certified Nursing Assistant and had plans to return to school to become a Registered Nurse. Friends and family remember her as a bright light who was a blessing to know. On the night of the incident, she had apparently made a brief stop at the party to get something from a friend before intending to head home. Police have emphasized that she was an innocent bystander with no involvement in the altercation that led to the shooting.
As of a year after her death, no arrests have been made in the case, and no specific suspects have been publicly identified. The Martinsville Police Department, along with the Henry County Sheriff's Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the Virginia Attorney General's Office, are actively investigating the complex case. Investigators have interviewed at least 67 people and collected over 140 pieces of evidence from the scene, many of which were sent for forensic analysis. Authorities believe at least two individuals fired weapons during the incident and have urged witnesses to come forward with any information that could lead to an arrest, offering a reward for tips provided through Crime Stoppers. The investigation remains ongoing as they work to bring justice for Iviyan Dandridge.
