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Former Va. Public Safety Secretary stabbed in Byrd Park home

Posted at 8:16 PM, Jul 11, 2013
and last updated 2013-07-12 07:32:22-04

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - Police continue to investigate the stabbing of former Virginia Secretary of Public Safety Randolph Rollins. An intruder stabbed Rollins, 70, several times inside his Byrd Park home Monday night.

"I saw blood on the floor.  I saw blood on myself. I said, oh my goodness, there's blood all over me,” he said.

Rollins, who was recently released from the hospital, said he came face to face with the intruder when he went downstairs to lock the his back door.

"I noticed a man's tennis shoes sticking out beyond a wall.  And so, I stepped over and noticed it was a person.  I was amazed that somebody was right there in my house,” Rollins said.

Rollins said he then called out to the man.

"What are you doing in my house?" Rollins recalled asking the man. "And he didn't respond. I said, get out of my house. He said give me some money.”

Moments later, Rollins said the suspect walked towards him with a knife.

"I grabbed his hand thinking I could take the knife away from him,” Rollins said. "That's when a scuffle happened and we fell to the floor. And I lost control of his hand and realized, I just better get him out of the house."

The suspect stabbed Rollins several times, then ran away after Rollins pushed him out. Rollins was transported to the hospital, where he stayed for a day.

"I don't think I had a choice but to deal with it, and was fortunate that the injuries were not more severe,” Rollins said.

He admits he should have locked the back door, but said he had no reason to believe someone would break in. He and his wife have lived in the area for decades.

"We don't try to barricade ourselves behind bars. The backyard is our yard. It has a fence around it.  It's not like it's in the middle of some high-crime area,” Rollins said.

Richmond Police Captain Yvonne Crowder offered advice to people who may find themselves in a similar situation.

"Distance yourself, go upstairs, go to a room, where you should lock door. Get on your cell phone. Dial 911, call for help,” Crowder said.

Captain Crowder advised residents to lock doors, set up motion lights outside your home or install a home alarm system.

Neighbors have contacted CBS 6, concerned the suspect has not been apprehended.

If you have any information about that home invasion, call Crime Ctoppers at 780-1000.