PETERSBURG, Va. – A suspect is in custody after "several" people were stabbed Thursday afternoon at a plasma center in Petersburg, according to Petersburg Police Chief Kenneth Miller.
Police were called to the Octapharma Plasma center in the 2000 block of Sycamore Street near the intersection of Crater Road around 4:40 p.m.
That is when police said a man walked into the plasma center and used a "cutting instrument" to hurt several people inside.
Sources said nurses and customers hid in a restroom inside that plasma center.
“As far as I know business was usual, patrons were inside just like any other day,” an officer said.
Reporter Melissa Hipolit said detectives were talking to witnesses and collecting evidence as of 6 p.m.
As plasma center workers exited the building, they declined to comment citing corporate policy, but video painted a disturbing picture of what happened.
"We were shown some video taken by someone inside the plasma center right after the attack, and I can tell you it looked like a pretty gruesome scene," Hipolit said.
Three victims were transported to Southside Regional Medical Center, according to hospital officials.
One male patient in critical condition was transferred to another hospital.
One female victim was in fair condition at last check and another female victim was in good condition, according to hospital officials.
Police said the suspect was taken into custody without incident.
Officers search suspect's home.
Later Thursday evening, officers searched the suspect's nearby home, according to sources.
The commotion brought neighbors Rahsean Bowman and his children outside.
"There was a little bit of beep, beep," Bowman recalled. "We just looked out the window and seen a bunch of cop cars."
Rahsean Bowman and family
Bowman added that he earlier spotted an ambulance, firefighters, and police at the home.
“They put somebody in the ambulance and they just left,” Bowman’s daughter said.
If you have information that could help detectives, call Petersburg/Dinwiddie Crime Solvers at 804-861-1212 or text the keyword pdcash followed by the tip and send to 274637.
This is a breaking story, so anyone with more information can submit a news tip here.
