Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - The Richmond Police Department is investigating after a Chesterfield Police Officer and a hospital patient were shot at Chippenham Hospital early Friday morning.
Just before 4:15 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 22, officers were called to Chippenham Hospital’s mental health facility, the Tucker Pavilion, for a reported shooting. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.
The victim was identified as a patient. The suspect shooter has since been taken into custody.
The suspect – a 27-year-old Glen Allen man – had reportedly attempted to check himself in for mental health treatment.
"He was entering a room where he was disrobing and getting into a gown and then, without warning, started firing his weapon," said Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards. "A Chesterfield Police Officer was on scene on an unrelated case in Tucker's, heard the gunfire, and intervened."
Edwards said that the Chesterfield Officer fired his weapon, but the suspect was not hit by gunfire. The officer was struck in his boot but was not hurt.
Police do not believe the suspect and patient knew each other. RPD says it will continue to investigate the incident.
"Chesterfield Police will conduct their own internal investigation, so anything related to that, I would refer you to the Chesterfield Police Department," Edwards said. "The Richmond Police Department will be the lead investigators in this incident."
