Two Va. Police Officers Critically Wounded, K‑9 Killed in Shooting
What to know
- Two Chesterfield County police officers were critically wounded and a K‑9 was killed after a suspect opened fire during a domestic disturbance call.
- The suspect, identified as the homeowner’s son, allegedly fired a long gun at officers inside the residence; both officers remain hospitalized in critical but stable condition, and the suspect, who was also injured, is expected to survive.
- Authorities used a drone during the standoff and later took the suspect into custody; he faces multiple felony charges, including attempted aggravated murder of a police officer and killing a police dog.
Part of the investigation involves determining the types of weapons present and actually used. Carpenter says there was some sort of ordnance in the home, potentially a grenade or cannonball.
A drone was deployed inside the home to "ascertain the status and whereabouts" of the suspect, Carpenter said. He is unsure of whether the drone was eventually shot down by the suspect or went down on its own.
Police said in a news release around 12:44 a.m. Monday, the officers are hospitalized and in critical but stable condition. The police K9, Knight, is dead.
Police responded at 4:40 p.m. Sunday to a report of a shooting in the 12900 block of Gumfork Place, which is in the Clover Hill Farms neighborhood in the county's Matoaca District.
Uniformed officers entered the home, and the suspect fired multiple shots with a long gun, hitting two officers and the K9.
Police said the suspect was also injured in the incident and taken to a local hospital. Carpenter says the suspect is expected to survive.
According to police, there were accounts of the suspect displaying a weapon in the neighborhood that officers received following Sunday's shooting.
"It sounds like the community was aware of his behavior and the fact he would tend to operate with an openly displayed weapon," Carpenter said.
Despite these reports, Chief Carpenter says that Chesterfield police had never been called to the residence to respond to such reports.
"All indications at this time show that it's not a neighborhood that we frequent on a regular basis," Carpenter said. "It's just interesting that when we spoke with neighbors, they were aware of this behavior."
Carpenter says the suspect was not immediately taken into custody following a "barrage of gunfire" between him and the officers. There was reportedly further engagement between the parties, and some officers needed to be evacuated from the scene.
The suspect eventually gave himself up and was taken into custody.
At 5:30 p.m., officials issued an emergency alert for people within a 1-mile radius to shelter in place. By 7 p.m., police said there was no ongoing threat to the community.
Police ask the community to continue to avoid the area surrounding the crime scene as they investigate.
"All we ask is patience," Carpenter said. "It's a tremendous crime scene that has to be processed, so roadways may be a little challenging."
Virginia State Police also responded to the scene, including troopers with assault-style rifles, an armored vehicle and a helicopter.
When asked if the Chesterfield Police Department would release the body-worn camera footage of the incident, Chief Carpenter said it would not be available due to the active investigation status.
Anyone with information should contact the Chesterfield County Police Department at (804) 748-1251 or Crime Solvers at (804) 748-0660 or through the P3 app.
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