RICHMOND, Va. -- Police identified the gunman accused of abducting two men from a Richmond gas station. Frank E. Reid, 36, of Williamsburg Road, was charged with two counts of robbery and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in connection with Monday's abduction and robbery, according to Richmond Police. Reid has a criminal past that includes firearm and assault charges dating back to the late 1990s.
Reid has not yet been linked to other on-going investigations, according to a Richmond Police spokesman, but police sources indicated Richmond and Williamsburg detectives were comparing notes on the Richmond abduction and a similar July incident in Williamsburg.
One of the men taken hostage was identified as Russell Turner, according to multiple police sources. Turner, a Senior Analyst at the BrownGreer law firm, was last listed in critical but stable condition at the hospital. Reid, police said, abducted Turner and one of Turner's co-workers then forced them to drive to the Bank of America at 1111 East Main Street.
Reid’s roommate speaks
CBS 6 tracked down Frank Reid’s roommate. The two live in the 1100 of block of Williamsburg road in Richmond’s East End.
The roommate who wanted to remain anonymous tells CBS 6, Reid was recently released from prison, and was working part-time at Tyson’s food in Glen Allen.
He says Reid always complained about not having enough money.
The roommate says he can’t believe Reid would commit such a crime.
"I was shocked…because I lived with guy yeah know…he could've done anything to me,” said the roommate. "When I heard about it, I didn't even want to come home. I was kind of scared to stay here…pretty much by myself."
The roommate said he has no sympathy for the 36 year old.
"I don't feel no remorse for Frank,” said the roommate. "The fact that he shot the man. He could've let the man go. But Frank already knew the police was right there. He didn't have to shoot the guy,” said the roommate.
Decision made inside bank leads to police chase
It was at the Bank of America, at 1111 East Main Street in downtown Richmond, where one victim was ordered to get out. He went into the bank, according police, and called 911. Police arrived and ordered the gunman to release his hostage, but instead the vehicle drove off, weaving through city streets.
Police chased the carjacked SUV throughout the city as hostage Turner, drove.
"Be advised he has a weapon to the driver’s head,” crackled the police radio.
The pursuit ended with a crash in Church Hill near 25th and R streets.
"Shots fired! Shots fired!"
Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham said Reid then fired a weapon at officers after he shot Turner in the head at point-blank range.
"The vehicle stopped, and the suspect sitting in the rear seat fired a single shot at our victim’s head," Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham said.
Even though the chief said the gunman shot the victim, the official police update issued later that evening was not as specific.
"Henrico Police deployed spike strips near the intersection of Magnolia Street and Mechanicsville Turnpike in Henrico County, puncturing the SUV’s tires. The vehicle came to a stop after it failed to make a turn from 25th Street onto R Street and collided with a parked car," a Richmond Police spokeswoman said. "Gunfire was exchanged between the suspect and officers. Both the victim and suspect were taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. An RPD officer also suffered a minor injury."
Reid was last listen in stable condition at the hospital.
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