PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Following a night of gunfire in Prentis Park, two people are hurt and two police officers are on administrative leave pending an investigation.
While responding to a shooting, Portsmouth Police Chief Stephen Jenkins said his officers shot a man the called the suspect. However, some witnesses are putting the officers’ use of force into question.
13News Now received video from a witness who captured the officer-involved shooting on her cellphone. Some viewers may find it disturbing to watch. After repeated commands from officers went ignored, around 16 gunshots went off.
Gunshot detection technology and 911calls brought Portsmouth police to Prentis Park Thursday. At around 8 p.m. on Elm Avenue near Lincoln Street, they said they found a person shot who should survive.
Chief Jenkins told 13News Now responding officers encountered a man with a weapon identified as a suspect.
"Our officers began giving verbal commands for that individual to drop his weapon, that individual failed to do so. Based on his actions, our officers - two of them - fired shots at him, striking him to the ground,” Jenkins said.
"Police fired a whole bunch of shots,” said a witness and neighbor who wanted to go by G.
G recalled the man walking away from officers. "The force wasn't necessary,” he said.
A sergeant with Virginia State Police said the suspect is 25 years old. He was listed in critical condition, according to the latest from the Portsmouth Police Department.
Several neighbors inside their homes hit the floor to take cover.
"Because you never know about these bullets. It sounded like it was a warzone out here,” one anonymous neighbor and longtime resident said. “The violence is terrible. It's gotten bad out here. It's not like it used to be.”
Chief Jenkins said Portsmouth police officer are still investigating the initial shooting. Investigators with Virginia State Police are looking into the one involving the officers.
"It's a tragic incident any time officers are placed into a bad situation where they have to discharge their weapon,” said Jenkins.
Once state police wrap up their investigation into the officer-involved shooting, they will turn over their findings to the Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney for her review.