Update on Death Investigation and Aggravated Assault on Officer
Richmond Police detectives are continuing to
investigate the death investigation and aggravated assault that occurred at the
execution of a search warrant in Belt Atlantic apartments yesterday.
The 16-year-old male who was injured at the scene
succumbed to his injury yesterday at a local hospital.
Yesterday at approximately 5:46 a.m., Third
Precinct officers, with assistance of the RPD SWAT team, attempted to execute a
search warrant in the 4000 block of Midlothian Turnpike. The search
warrant was the result of an ongoing investigation into illegal firearms,
specifically use of a machine gun for aggressive purposes and possession of
auto sear devices or “switches”.
Officers
announced their presence as police multiple times and stated that they had a
search warrant. An adult female exited the apartment shortly thereafter. While
officers were outside, gunshots were fired from inside the residence. An
officer’s ballistic shield was struck by a bullet, a bullet fragment or sharp
metal resulting from a bullet passing through the exterior door frame while the
officer was at the door. The object then made contact with the officer’s body.
The officer was not injured. No officers discharged their weapons during this
incident. A photo of the bullet hole in the door frame is attached. A photo of
the ballistic shield and a detail of the damage to the shield is also attached.
Two
males exited the apartment and informed officers that there was an injured
young male still inside.
Officers entered the apartment and observed blood
under a closed bedroom door. Officers made entry into the bedroom and found the
young male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. There was no evidence to
suggest it was anything other than a self-inflicted wound. The Medical Examiner
will determine cause and manner of death.
The two males, 18, and 13, were taken into
investigative detention at the scene.
In the apartment, members of the RPD forensics unit
collected bullets that were fired in this incident and cartridge casings. These
will be analyzed for comparison to three firearms recovered at the scene. The
casings are from a brand of ammunition the RPD does not use. An assault rifle
was recovered as well as two firearms which were modified with auto sears or
switches, illegal devices which, when attached to a handgun, modify it into a
fully automatic ‘machine gun-type’ firearm.
Over 200 rounds of ammunition were also seized.
“The
loss of a young life is always tragic, and my deepest condolences go out to the
family,” said Chief Rick Edwards. “At the same time, I am incredibly
grateful that none of our officers were killed or seriously injured when they
came under fire yesterday. This incident is a powerful reminder of the danger
illegal firearms and these ‘conversion devices’ bring to our community, and the
Richmond Police Department will continue working tirelessly to get them off our
streets.”
Anyone with further information about this
incident is asked to call Major Crimes Detective J. Crewell at (804)
646-5324 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. The P3 Tips Crime
Stoppers app for smartphones also may be used. All Crime Stoppers reporting
methods are anonymous.
