Bill Atkinson Progress-Index Staff @BAtkinsonpi

ThursdayApr9,2020at9:44AM

Officers were investigating vehicle burglaries in Dunlop Farms when they encountered the suspect, who ran from the scene and was later found dead behind a residence several blocks away

COLONIAL HEIGHTS A city police officer has been placed on administrative leave after killing a burglary suspect when a traffic stop in a city neighborhood turned into a shootout early Thursday morning.

Police Sgt. Renee Walters said the suspect was killed in the exchange of gunfire around 2:30 a.m. in the 100 block of Dunlop Farms Boulevard. Walters said he ran from the scene and was later found dead several blocks away.

The stop came after police were called to investigate reports of someone breaking into vehicles on Clearfield Circle, Walters said.

"Officers arrived on scene and located an unoccupied, suspicious vehicle," Walters said in a statement issued by the police department. "Officers were canvasing the area, when an individual got into this vehicle and attempted to leave the area."

When they stopped the car on Dunlop Farms Boulevard, Walters said, the suspect got out of the car and fired multiple rounds at the officers.

The suspect then ran after the officers shot back. Prince George Police brought over a tracking dog to assist in the search, and Walters said the K-9 unit found the suspect dead behind a residence on Greenmeadow Court near East Ellerslie Avenue.

Neither the suspect nor the officer have been identified.

Walters said the officer was placed on leave while the shooting is being investigated, which is department policy. The Virginia State Police will be leading that investigation at Colonial Heights request.

Walters said the suspect was the only one in the vehicle. No one else was reported injured.

Anyone who might have information about the incident is asked to contact Colonial Heights Police Department at (804) 520-9300, option 7. Information may also be shared anonymously through Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Crime Solvers at (804) 748-0660 or the P3Tips app.

Bill Atkinson can be reached at batkinson@progress-index.com. On Twitter: @BAtkinsonpi

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Suspect killed in traffic-stop shootout with Heights police - Progress Index