A man was hospitalized early Sunday after Portsmouth police opened fire amid a large crowd gathered at an establishment in the 4600 block of George Washington Highway. Officers had rushed to the scene after hearing shots fired, only to find themselves in the middle of a chaotic, crowded situation that ended with one of their own weapons striking an adult male.
According to WAVY.com, Portsmouth police arrived at the establishment after hearing shots fired and found a large crowd already gathered there. During their response, police discharged a weapon, and that weapon struck an adult male. Officers rendered medical aid at the scene until medics arrived, and the man was then transported to a local hospital.
State Police to Review the Shooting Independently
As is standard practice for police-involved shootings, Virginia State Police will conduct an independent investigation into the incident, while Portsmouth police will carry out their own internal administrative review, per the same account. The investigation remains active, and no arrests or charges tied to the incident had been disclosed as of Sunday morning.
Virginia law requires the Department of State Police to log every officer-involved shooting in its annual Crime in Virginia report, including whether the shooting is ultimately determined to have been justified, according to the Virginia Code. The state agency's Data Analysis and Reporting Team also tracks generalized statistics on officer-involved shootings and use of force across Virginia law enforcement agencies, per the Virginia State Police.
A Second Portsmouth Officer-Involved Shooting Since Summer
Sunday's shooting is not the first time this year that a Portsmouth officer has fired a weapon during a confrontation. On July 9, a man suffered life-threatening injuries after a struggle with two Portsmouth police officers at the dead end of Bayview Boulevard, when he reportedly reached for an officer's gun, according to The Virginian-Pilot.
In that case, both officers were placed on administrative leave while Virginia State Police investigated, and the Portsmouth Police Department said it would also conduct its own internal investigation, the outlet reported. That July shooting was itself the second involving a Portsmouth police officer within a single week, underscoring a string of high-stakes encounters for the department this year.
It remains unresolved whether Sunday's shooting will follow the same review pattern that played out in July, including whether the involved officer will be placed on leave. For now, the circumstances that led the officer to discharge a weapon amid the crowd on George Washington Highway are still under investigation.
