Two Richmond Police Department officers were shot Saturday afternoon during a standoff in the city's South Side and were treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.
Later in the day, a male and a female were found dead inside the house in the 3900 block of Rusk Avenue after a SWAT team fired tear gas into the residence.
"We are looking at this as a murder-suicide," Deputy Chief John Buturla said Saturday evening at the close of the hours-long standoff that brought dozens of police officers to the neighborhood, closed surrounding streets and prompted evacuations of neighbors.
On Saturday night, police had not released the identities of the two people found dead in the house.
The incident began after police received a call about 1:30 p.m. from a family member or friend who was concerned about the welfare of someone in the house, said Gene Lepley, spokesman for the Richmond Police Department.
Unsuccessful at getting someone to answer the door and concerned about a person inside, police broke into the house. The two officers were shot and then transported for treatment at VCU Medical Center.
"They are doing fine," Lepley said hours later.
Buturla said that after the two officers were shot and wounded, a single shot was heard inside the house.
"When the officers made their initial entry and were confronted by the individual (with the gun), they observed a female who appeared to be deceased."
Buturla said one of the two officers being treated was expected to be released from the hospital Saturday evening.
"The scene is completely under control," he said about 8 p.m. All the neighbors who were evacuated were allowed home, he said. "We greatly appreciate all the cooperation from the neighbors."
Officers had responded in force to the scene and cordoned off Walmsley Boulevard, Hopkins Road and Rusk Avenue. At least 30 marked and unmarked cars were at the scene.
"The response is not unusual when two of our own have been shot," Lepley said.
Jimmie Ross, who lives across the street from where the shootings occurred, said a couple with teenage children lived in house.
Ross, who was evacuated, said he heard two sets of gunshots. He said he heard a police officer say he had been hit and heard a woman scream.
Ross said he was startled by the incident. "It's a nice, quiet, peaceful neighborhood," he said.
Doc White, who lives across the street, said he was installing bathroom fixtures when police evacuated him out his house's back door.
Henrico County police and Virginia State Police were on the scene to help Richmond police officers. The Richmond police also received offers of assistance from federal agents, he said.
Richmond police will investigate the case with the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, Buturla said.
Copyright 2013 - Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
