HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- Police are calling Tuesday’s fatal shooting in eastern Henrico a death investigation. Sources tell CBS 6 the two suspects in the shooting are still at large.
The gunfire on Laburnum Avenue was not too far from a place that will be a popular sports venue this weekend: Richmond International Raceway.
Family and friends wept Tuesday evening for a fallen loved one, as a child was carried away to be reunited with his mother.
Sources say several children were inside a blue house when bullets started flying in the yard. Police shut down Laburnum Ave. between Pilots Lane and Alma Avenue.
A man was lying dead in the backyard of the house, next to a parked car.
"It's not safe out here,” said April Minter, who lives near the shooting. “You are always looking over your shoulder, and looking at your surroundings."
Minter and her sister Nikisa said it could've been a whole lot worse if it had been 15 minutes later when kids were set to get off the school bus or this weekend when thousands of race fans walk in the area to enjoy the NASCAR race.
"We’re getting used to it,” said Nakisa Minter. “We've been around for some stuff."
"I heard like four or five shots," said April. "Those people are from out of town; they don't know the area like we do, and it's sad."
Henrico police insist RIR is a safe venue and like always, extra officers will be working the event. But Tuesday afternoon, detectives were doing laps around the area, looking for evidence.
Police are asking the community to call if they saw or heard anything suspicious.
"We’re trying to determine what led up to this,” said Henrico Police Lt. Chris Eley. "This part of Laburnum, at 2 p.m. in the afternoon, there were a lot of people out here. If you saw anything, please contact us."
The victim’s body was taken to the Medical Examiner's office in Richmond where he will be officially identified.
Police ask anyone with any information about this man’s identity to call Third Precinct Detective Gregory Sullivan at (804) 646-1950 or Crime Stoppers at 780-1000. Citizens can also text Crime Stoppers at 274637, using the key word “ITip” followed by your tip. Both Crime Stoppers methods are anonymous.
