VIDEO: Richmond Officer Shot in Foot Pursuit, Suspect in Custody
A Richmond, VA, police officer was shot during a foot pursuit in the Brookland Park area of Richmond early Sunday morning.
Keith V. Smith, Jr., 23, has been charged with three felonies, including aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Additional charges are expected for Smith.
Richmond Police spokesperson Gene Lepley told WTVR TV the incident began at about 12:15 a.m. when the officer approached Smith near the corner of Garland Avenue and Hooper Street.
"It was just a 'stop and talk,'" Lepley said. "They do it all the time. When you have somebody out at night, you engage those people and see what's going on. You find out what's happening."
But Smith began to run, Lepley said. As the police officer gave chase, he fired multiple shots at the officer. One of the shots struck the officer in the leg. That officer returned fire, but did not strike Smith. The other two assisting officers did not fire their weapons in the pursuit.
