5/7/23

Updated

The Harrisonburg Police Department have release a statement concerning an abduction and police officer involved shooting, which occurred Saturday evening in downtown Harrisonburg

From the HPD

A domestic disturbance involving a weapon became an abduction Saturday evening, leading to a police pursuit through Harrisonburg’s Downtown. The incident ended with Harrisonburg Police Department officers shooting the armed suspect after a shot was fired from inside the suspect’s vehicle. The victim was able to escape safely.
The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6, regarding a domestic disturbance involving a weapon in the 1000 block of Old Furnace Road. The incident escalated to an abduction involving a 30-year-old male suspect and the victim, a 52-year-old woman, both of the Harrisonburg area. The suspect and victim were in a relationship.
Officers pursued the two from East Market Street, around Court Square and onto Liberty Street. Officers were then able to box in the vehicle near the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Regional Jail. As officers surrounded the vehicle and ordered the suspect to drop the handgun, a shot was fired from inside the vehicle. Additional orders to drop the weapon were given and ignored, and officers fired upon the suspect. The victim escaped the vehicle unharmed, and following more orders to drop the weapon that continued to be ignored, officers opened fire and subdued the suspect who was inside the vehicle.
The suspect was struck multiple times, and HPD officers immediately administered life-saving care on the scene. Additionally, the Harrisonburg Fire Department and Harrisonburg Rescue Square responded to the scene and administered aid before the suspect was flown to the UVA Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition as of Sunday morning. No one else was injured in the incident. One handgun was recovered from inside the vehicle.
All officers who discharged their weapons have been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard practice per HPD use of force policy, while the incident is investigated. Additionally, the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney of Rockingham County will review all materials related to this incident, and HPD’s Professional Standards Unit will then conduct its own internal investigation to determine if the actions of the officers involved were within policy, both of which are standard practice.
No further information will be released at this time.

Liberty Street between Elizabeth and Bruce streets in Downtown Harrisonburg were closed last night for an extended period of time following an officer-involved shooting.

At approximately 6:30 p.m. Harrisonburg Police officers were called to a domestic disturbance with a weapon that became an abduction. Following a pursuit, the suspect stopped in the area of 25 Liberty Street and was engaged by officers, resulting in the suspect being wounded and flown to UVA. The abduction victim was safely recovered.

An investigation into this matter is currently underway. We’ll continue to bring you updates as information becomes available.