RICHMOND, Va. --- One person was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after a shooting on the VCU campus.
Officers responded to reports of shots fired near the VCU bookstore, along the 1100 block of West Broad Street, at about 2:45 a.m. Saturday. Police arrived and found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the back.
“We have a male who shot here on Broad street and the suspect was last seen fleeing towards Harrison and Broad," police could be heard saying on scanners.
Paramedics took the victim to VCU Medical Center. The victim's name has not been released.
It was unknown if the victim was a VCU student, or just someone who was on the downtown campus.
Police after man shot in the back near VCU bookstore.
VCU issued a campus-wide alert urging students and staff to stay indoors and avoid the area.
Matthew Smith heard the loud sirens from his apartment.
"I was pretty worried because obviously it was a severe situation,” Smith said.
Police combed the area and detained one person, but have not yet said if that person was a suspect in the shooting.
Witnesses told WTVR CBS 6 the shooting stemmed from argument after Club 534 mansion let out, but police have not confirmed that information.
Wesley Weber
Red Eye Cookie operations manager Wesley Weber said what happened is terrible. His business is a block away from the shooting scene.
"When people pull the trigger, they don't think about where the bullet is going to go, if it doesn't go to the person they're trying to shoot,” Weber said.
Red Eye Cookie stays open around 3 a.m. on the weekends.
"There's people, there's all kinds of foot traffic," he said. "And it could very easily come into my shop.”
Even though Weber has security cameras around his shop, he also relies on police for protection.
"VCU is going to be stepping up their patrols on foot and on bike," Weber said. "Obviously, we appreciate that.”
Richmond police have not released the condition of the victim or the motive for this shooting.
Anyone with information that could help police should call Crimestoppers at 804-780-1000.
This is a developing story. Anyone with additional information can submit a news tip here.
