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.
