State Police will probe shooting death of gun-wielding man by Hopewell Police Wednesday
HOPEWELL – Virginia State Police have been asked to investigate after Hopewell Police officers shot and killed a gun-wielding suspect Wednesday night in a city neighborhood.
A statement from Hopewell Police said the man, 74-year-old Berkley Lee Collins Jr. of Hopewell, was allegedly firing weapons in the 2700 block of Gordon Street. The statement said responding officers “observed the suspect holding two firearms” and repeatedly gave him “clear and concise verbal commands in an attempt to de-escalate the situation” to drop the guns.
Collins allegedly did not comply and continued shooting, “forcing the officers to return fire,” the statement said. Collins was hit and died at the scene.
It was not immediately clear what prompted the suspect to be outside shooting the guns. The statement also did not say if Collins pointed the weapons in the officers’ direction before he was shot.
The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday where Gordon Street intersects with Hill Avenue, close to South Mesa Drive.
“Every day, our police officers put their lives on the line to protect and serve our community,” interim police chief Greg Taylor said in the statement. “They face dangerous and unpredictable situations with courage and professionalism, often risking their safety to ensure the safety of others. Our officers’ dedication and commitment to upholding the law and maintaining order are essential for functioning society.”
State Police spokesperson Corinne Geller confirmed for The Progress-Index that Hopewell requested them to take over the investigation. While not mandated to do so, state police often are called upon by local jurisdictions to avoid any appearance of bias.
Hopewell Police have not said if the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave or modified duty while the investigation continues.
It’s the second time in five years that VSP has gotten involved in an officer-related shooting.
In December 2018, Angel DeCarlo was shot to death in a confrontation with Hopewell Police on Sixth Street. In that instance, officers responding to an armed robbery on nearby Winston Churchill Drive encountered her running on Westover Avenue and believed her to be the suspect. She was killed when officers thought she was brandishing a gun, but it turned out she was unarmed.
The investigation into that matter is ongoing. Portsmouth commonwealth's attorney Stephanie Morales was chosen as special prosecutor in that case. Almost five years later, her office has not yet released her findings.
A message left by The Progress-Index with her office seeking comment on the status of that has not been returned.
Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI.
This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell Police kill gun-wielding suspect
