RICHMOND, Va. — Richmond Police have urged people to avoid the area around Belle Isle in Richmond as officers search for the person who shot a park ranger Sunday afternoon.
The gunfire struck the ranger in his bulletproof vest, and he survived the shooting with minor injuries, Crime Insider sources told Jon Burkett. Police later confirmed that information.
The shooting call came in at about 1:45 p.m.
"When [officers] arrived on scene, they encountered an urban park ranger who indicated that he was interacting with an individual in a wooded area in the park, offering him services for shelter when, suddenly, the male produced a firearm and shot him in the chest or in the torso area," Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards said in a Sunday evening press conference. "Luckily, the ranger was wearing a bulletproof vest, and he sustained what are considered minor injuries, bruising essentially."
Richmond Police swarmed the area of the James River around Belle Isle, searching for the shooter but have not yet found him.
"We've had our SWAT operators searching the island for the perpetrator. We've utilized UAVs (drones). We have a bloodhound and other canines searching the island," Edwards said.
Police described the person they're looking for as a Black male in his late 30s, 5 feet 11 inches tall, with a short, patchy beard. The ranger told police the man was wearing a black winter coat, had short, unkempt hair, and dirty clothes.
Police are working under the assumption the man still has a gun.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.
This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.
Watch Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards's update on the situation in the video box below.
Here is a transcription of Chief Edwards's update. It has been lightly edited for clarity.
Chief Rick Edwards
At 1:42 pm the Richmond Police Department received a call for service at 1 Belle Isle for a report of a person shot.
When they arrived on scene, they encountered an urban park ranger who indicated that he was interacting with an individual in a wooded area in the park offering him services for shelter, when suddenly, the male produced a firearm and shot him in the chest or in the torso area.
Luckily, the ranger was wearing a bulletproof vest, and he sustained what are considered minor injuries, bruising essentially.
He is currently he has met with our detectives and is currently being checked out at a local hospital.
I have a description of the person of interest in this case.
He is a Black male, late 30s, 5'11". He has a short, patchy beard.
He was wearing a black winter coat, he had short unkempt hair, and all of his clothing was dirty.
Once this investigation started, we set up a command post.
We've had our SWAT operators searching the island for the perpetrator.
We've utilized UAVs.
We have a bloodhound and other canines searching the island, and we have not found that individual.
At this time, we're asking our community to avoid the area while we continue our search. If they have information that could be helpful, we're asking them to call 911, or [Crimestoppers] anonymously at 804-780-1000.
For the safety of all involved, we'd ask you to avoid the area.
Reporter asks for details about the interaction and firearm.
He's reporting to us that it was a very quick conversation.
He noticed the male in a wooded area.
He talked about the open cold weather shelter.
The male asked him to help him get up off the ground.
As that was happening, the victim reported the male immediately produced a firearm, said nothing, shot one time and then fled in the southeast direction on the island.
We have not recovered any firearms, so we have to assume [the suspect still has a gun].
This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.
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