The suspect in a 2022 Gloucester County home invasion and murder was indicted this week on a number of felony charges.
Tyrell Lamont Samuel, 24, of Saluda, was directly indicted by a grand jury Monday in Gloucester Circuit Court on the following charges: murder in the first degree; attempted murder in the first degree; shooting in the commission of a felony (two counts); use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, first offense; malicious wounding; use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, second offense (two counts), burglary while armed with the intent to commit murder, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The charges stem from an Aug. 15, 2022 incident on Bufflehead Drive. At 2:05 a.m., Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to an emergency call in the 4300 block in reference to a home invasion and shooting.
Deputies arrived and quickly entered the residence to find two victims with gunshot wounds. Deputies cleared the residence for any suspected shooters and called paramedics to the scene. It was determined that the shooter fled prior to law enforcement’s arrival. The female victim, 18-tear-old Skyler Merenda, was pronounced dead at the scene. A 20-year-old male was transported to a hospital with a gunshot wound to his lower extremities. Both victims had been residing at this location.
A preliminary investigation by the GCSO suggested that a suspect entered the residence and opened fire. The crime scene was processed with assistance from the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division conducted an exhaustive investigation over the next eight months. Early in the investigation, Samuel was identified as a suspect in this case. On Aug. 24, 2022, he was arrested by GCSO investigators on an unrelated firearms offense. Samuel has been held without bond since this arrest for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, according to Lt. Michael P. Rice of the GCSO Criminal Investigations Division.
GCSO investigators reached out to its partners with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to assist with the analysis of evidence collected at the shooting scene by their forensic laboratory. Results from ATF’s analysis combined with evidence obtained by GCSO investigators has resulted in additional charges for Samuel for his role in the Bufflehead Drive incident and death of Merenda.
On Monday, the GCSO lead investigator presented this evidence to the grand jury. To maintain the integrity of this investigation, GCSO will have no further comment as casework will continue through adjudication, the sheriff’s office stated.
“The Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office wishes to express our sincere appreciation to our partners at the Virginia State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,” the GCSO statement concluded.