Martinsville Police Chief Rob Fincher provided an update on the investigation into the death of Iviyan “Ivy” Dandridge and the involvement of Ceasefire Virginia, a state-led program aimed at reducing gun violence. Dandridge passed away on Sunday, July 7, after suffering a gunshot wound while attending a gathering at a home in the Rives Road community. She was 19.
Fincher detailed the collaborative efforts between local law enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Virginia Attorney General’s Office in solving the case.
Two full-time detectives from the Martinsville Police Department, including one who also works with the ATF, have been assigned to the case. Authorities continue the investigation, processing and testing evidence and are working to evaluate whether forthcoming charges should be federal or state.
“Gun violence affects so many people, and having these resources has been a tremendous asset,” Fincher said. “All of our evidence has been turned over to the ATF because they can get quicker results.”
Dandridge’s death occurred at an event attended by 100 to 200 people, many of whom were not originally invited but arrived after seeing social media posts. “There were some vehicles in a nearby church parking lot, and others came from different parts of the city and county after seeing posts online,” Fincher explained. “I don’t think many of them were even expected.”
Fincher also stressed that Dandridge, an innocent bystander, had no involvement in the events that led to her death. “This young lady had no fault in what happened. She was standing in an unlucky spot,” he said. “We don’t fully understand why this happened, but I’m very confident that charges will come.”
Despite the frustration expressed by Dandridge’s family over the pace of the investigation, Fincher emphasized his confidence that charges would be filed. “I feel for the family and their frustration,” he said. “But with federal investigators involved, sometimes I wish I could tell them (the family) more than I can.”
Fincher said that Martinsville is one of 13 cities participating in Ceasefire Virginia, a state program led by the Attorney General Jason Miyares, alongside cities like Danville, Petersburg, Norfolk, and Richmond. The program has provided invaluable support, particularly in the testing of evidence, providing additional manpower, and has given the police department access to resources that would have otherwise been unavailable.
The collaborative also is working on another unresolved homicide that occurred on Commonwealth Boulevard more than a year ago, he said.
“There’s a partnership between us, and they have the expertise to handle certain aspects of the case” and can provide more resources to successfully resolve the case, Fincher said, and assured the Dandridge family that his office would continue working with federal and state agencies to seek justice.
Family Remembers Ivy Dandridge
Ivy Dandridge’s family described her as a compassionate, hardworking young woman who was pursuing a career in nursing. Her father, Terris Dandridge, spoke fondly of his daughter’s passion for helping others, noting that she worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and was planning to return to school to become a Registered Nurse.
“She grew up with the right mentality, picking up the values of hard work and compassion from those around her. I guess seeing the way the people around her, careful people, and the way we have always worked and tried to do things, when she got to the age where she could do those things she picked up and it was like she fell right in line,” he said.
“She loved taking care of people; it was her passion,” Terris Dandridge said. “Her mom was a nurse, and Ivy looked up to her as a role model. She was determined to do her best and be the best she could be.”
A music lover, Iviyan enjoyed R&B, hip hop, and “a little gospel here and there.” She cherished going to church with her father and grandmother at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Fieldale, which they joined in 2016. “It was a big moment for us, joining the church together,” Terris Dandridge said, finding some comfort in knowing his daughter was saved.
Terris Dandridge expressed concern about the rising gun violence in Martinsville. “I’ve lived here my whole life, and the murders and senseless violence have been increasing over the last 15 to 20 years. Nothing good happens after midnight, especially with guns involved.”
He recalled his daughter’s love for spending time with family, including her dog, and her enthusiasm for activities like swimming and playing basketball. “She was a girly girl, loved doing girly girl things,” he said, adding that she had a vibrant personality that brought joy to those around her.
“Iviyan was always there for anybody she could be. She was just an awesome, loving person all around. She was my only child. It hurts my heart,” he said.
Her stepfather, Ron Joyce, echoed those sentiments, saying Ivy’s presence could light up any room. He also shared how much she loved her younger siblings. “She has two younger siblings that were really her world,” Joyce said. “She was a very sweet girl and loved children, especially her siblings.”
Both Joyce and Terris Dandridge expressed deep pain over Ivy’s loss, with Joyce recalling how Ivy would regularly call him during his lunch breaks just to “check on me and see if she could take the kids to the park. It’s hard because I still expect that call. That’s just who she was—always thinking about others,” he said.
Now, when he goes to work, Joyce still expects to receive her phone call during his lunch break.
Her killer took someone that meant so much to him and others. “They took someone that we loved dearly, that’s irreplaceable,” he said.
“I have a six-year-old daughter that constantly reminds me daily, ‘Daddy I miss my sissy,’” Joyce said.
Iviyan’s mother, Adriane Joyce, tries to stay busy to help cope with the situation. “I catch her at the computer, she’s a wreck. And I think she tries to keep herself occupied with work, to overwhelm herself with work, just to be able to cope,” Joyce said.
It’s tough, especially as they’re still hearing about unsolved cases in Martinsville and young teenagers posting pictures with guns on social media.
“It’s bothersome, it bothers you a lot,” Joyce said.
Alexis Heavner, Ivy’s aunt, said she wants people to know what a loving person Iviyan was and how she took to people.
“Ivy was a CNA and cared so deeply for those that could no longer care for themselves. Ivy and I always had our babies. We were always busy in the summer going to the beach, the pool, water parks, sleepovers, going on picnics. She loved children,” she said.
Seeking Justice
Terris Dandridge acknowledged the difficulty of waiting for justice, but he remains hopeful that answers will come. “It’s very hard because she’s always been like the light of the room,” he said. “We’re just trying to stick together and pray for each other.”
Heavner has been an advocate for increased safety measures in Martinsville since Ivy’s death. She voiced her concerns at a Martinsville City Council meeting, calling for the implementation of safety measures to prevent further tragedies
“I don’t see the need for anyone under 21 to be out past midnight,” she said, adding that the rise in gun violence in Martinsville is alarming.
Like Heavner, Terris Dandridge said he thinks there should be a curfew. A “child under the age of 21” should not be out around 12-3 a.m. “I mean there’s nothing good happening after that time. Especially with guns, They need stricter laws on the guns. You know, gun violence in Martinsville has been crazy over the last 15-20 years,” he said.
Heavner and the family expressed frustration that no one has come forward with information about Ivy’s killer, despite the large crowd present at the event where she was shot. “Ivy wasn’t the type to go to parties, so this whole situation has been a shock,” Terris Dandridge said.
Joyce echoed those frustrations, noting that the lack of cooperation from attendees has been painful. “There were so many people at that party, and yet no one has come forward with information,” he said. “It’s hard to believe.”
Both Joyce and Heavner believe that the community has a responsibility to help prevent more senseless deaths, especially as gun violence continues to rise. “It can be someone else’s child next,” Joyce said. “We have to do something.”
The family continues to grieve, but they remain determined to seek justice for Ivy. “We’re willing to go to the end until we get justice for her,” Joyce said. “That’s what she deserves.”
Community Outrage and Calls for Action
Heavner, at the city council meeting, also questioned the lack of community outrage over Ivy’s death. “Right now, my niece has been killed, and nobody has an answer for that. It weighs on our family every single day,” she said.
Noting the neighborhood Iviyan was shot and killed in is surrounded by the elderly, Heavner asked the council to imagine an old lady getting a cup of water in the middle of the night getting shot and killed.
“It’s devastating,” she said.
Heavner also asked the council to give her any suggestions of things she could do to advocate for or work with the Martinsville community to prevent situations like Iviyan’s from happening again.
Council member Lawrence Mitchell suggested the family continue to tell Iviyan’s story.
Vice Mayor Aaron Rawls acknowledged the frustrations expressed by Heavner and others, noting that more needs to be done to address repeat offenders in the city.
“Obviously it is for you, it’s as vulnerable as it can possibly get. For us, I feel that we’ve kind of not done everything we can do in the law enforcement realm, and that is not throwing any shade at law enforcement,” he said. “We didn’t dot an ‘I’ or cross a ‘T,’ so they’re back out and doing it again.”
Rawls pledged to work on improving law enforcement efforts, and told Heavner he would put her in touch with someone who shares her frustration and has “gone through the next level working on this.”
As the Dandridge family continues to seek answers, they remain focused on ensuring that Ivy’s story is not forgotten, and that meaningful change comes from her tragic death.
“I miss my girl,” Heavner said. “The community lost someone special in Ivy, and we’ll keep telling her story until we find justice.”
