RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The manhunt continues for a man who allegedly shot and killed another man at a downtown Richmond bus stop near North 9th Street and East Broad Street Friday morning.
Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards expressed words of both sorrow and frustration after the fatal shooting. He addressed the media near where it happened, right in the heart of downtown Richmond.
“There are people that are settling disputes with firearms,” Chief Edwards said. “It should be fist fights, I’ve said that again and again. When you have individuals who are walking around with firearms and they get into a dispute, it no longer turns into a punch, it turns into a shot — and that’s what we saw here today, which cost a man his life.”
Around 7:46 a.m. Richmond Police Department, Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department and Virginia Capitol Police officers responded to multiple calls for shots fired at a bus stop right outside of City Hall.
When officers got to the scene, they found one man suffering from a serious gunshot wound to the torso. The victim was rushed to VCU Medical Center.
“About an hour later, he passed away,” Chief Edwards said.
The suspect was last seen heading west on East Broad Street, but that was just before 8 a.m., so there’s no telling where he ended up.
“We’re asking for help from the community,” Chief Edwards announced. “[Police are] looking for one male suspect.”
This suspect is described as a Black man with a short beard. He wore sunglasses, a face covering black shoes, blue jeans and a “distinctive black and white hooded jacket,” according to police.
The shooting was a rather brazen incident – happening in a very public place surrounded by witnesses. That’s part of why bus riders who 8News spoke with Friday afternoon said that, although gun violence is not new to Richmond, they were surprised this happened under these circumstances.
One bus rider told 8News that he waits at the bus stop where the incident happened almost every day and narrowly avoided being there when the shooting happened Friday morning. He got to the area at around 8:00 a.m., just 15 minutes after officers were dispatched to the scene.
“I was like, ‘What is going on?’ I check my social media, somebody said there was a shooting in this area, so I’m like, ‘Wow,’” he said.
The bus stop is surrounded by government buildings, including Richmond City Hall, and tourist attractions, it’s also a hotspot for school field trips. Richmond residents told 8News they were devastated to hear that something so violent happened in such a busy area.
“Richmond has been terrible with the violence in the last couple of years,” a Richmonder said.
The Richmonder said he wasn’t surprised to hear a shooting happened, but he noted that the location did pique his attention. He said he’s going to continue looking out for himself and others in the city.
“I hope this gets better,” he said. “And I’m sorry for those families losing family members and friends and stuff and, you know, it’s very sad.”
Anyone who sees a man matching the description of the suspect is asked to call 9-1-1 immediately. Police emphasized members of the public should not try to approach him. Officials have not yet confirmed the identity of the victim.
This is a developing story, stay with 8News for updates.
