RICHMOND, Va. — A man was critically injured early Wednesday morning during a police operation at the Belt Atlantic Apartments in South Richmond, leaving residents and students to pass through an active crime scene on their way to school.
Richmond Police said the shooting occurred around 6 a.m. in the 4000 block of Midlothian Turnpike as officers attempted to serve a search warrant. According to authorities, officers announced themselves and stated they had a warrant before a woman exited the apartment. Moments later, gunfire erupted from inside the unit.
Two young males then emerged from the apartment. When officers entered, they discovered another young male suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to a local hospital with injuries described as life-threatening.
Police confirmed that no officers were injured and no officer fired a weapon during the incident. The investigation remains ongoing.
A CBS 6 news crew observed an ambulance racing away from the scene as SWAT team members, dressed in tactical gear and carrying rifles, secured the area. Two young individuals were also seen being led away in handcuffs, though police have not confirmed their connection to the case.
Charles Willis, executive director of United Communities Against Crime, spoke at the scene, expressing concern for the children who witnessed the aftermath while heading to school.
“To have to cross a crime scene tape, I know it’s challenging and devastating, traumatizing for some of the young folks,” Willis said. “We’re working very closely with Richmond Public Schools, because that was a time where our young folks were about to board the buses, and they saw a lot of activity going on.”
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.