HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The Henrico County Police Division is continuing to investigate a barricade situation that occurred near Richmond Henrico Turnpike on Sunday.
Around 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 18, officers were called to the 4200 block of Fayette Circle for a reported medical emergency — a woman having breathing problems.
Upon their arrival, officers found a man who they recognized as having multiple warrants out for his arrest. According to police, the man — now identified as 22-year-old Risaiah Lorenzo Wyatt — immediately closed the door of the residence and refused to comply with commands.
Due to the severity of Wyatt’s warrant charges, police closed off several blocks of the neighborhood and told residents to avoid the area.
Melissa Ahmed, who lives a few houses down from where the barricade was set up, said it was “unnerving” seeing the scene so close to her home.
“Just seeing the SWAT out. At one point, it almost looks like to me around this house that they almost did a military formation style walking,” Ahmed said. “There was, at one point near the end, I thought I heard gunfire. And then they said that that possibly could have been like gas.”
Ahmed was not only concerned for her own safety, but her neighbor inside the home.
“But my big concern, too, was for the person who lives in there,” Ahmed said. “I heard that they were on oxygen, and I have lung problems, a lung disease myself. I can’t imagine if that would happen to me.”
The barricade situation ended sometime before 8:30 p.m. when officers took Wyatt into custody. Ahmed- who has only lived in the area for 6 months, says she likes where she lives and still feels safe in her neighborhood.
“I was relieved,” Ahmed said. “I like the neighborhood. I think it’s very…my neighbors are very great. So, mine like the neighborhood. So, nothing’s really changed to me.”
“Wyatt is known to have ties to Henrico County and Portsmouth,” a spokesperson with Henrico Police said. “Wyatt has several outstanding felonies (to be served) but remains in police custody at an area hospital, receiving treatment for matters unrelated to being taken into custody.”
According to 13 News Now, Wyatt was wanted for a shooting that occurred on Monday, June 12. A man and a woman were reportedly hospitalized after they were shot at the intersection of Portsmouth Boulevard and Frederick Boulevard. Wyatt was considered armed and dangerous.
The Henrico County Police Division is continuing to investigate the incident. Officers with the Portsmouth Police Department are continuing to investigate in their jurisdiction. Anyone with information is encouraged to submit anonymous tips online at P3Tips.com.
