PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – Neighbors are sharing what they experienced after a man died after he and police exchanged gunfire Wednesday evening at a home on Greeneland Boulevard, according to Portsmouth Police, who are investigating the shooting. Police said the woman was found with life-threatening gunshot injuries when they arrived at the scene.
The man, who was identified as 56-year-old Richard Albert Stoots Jr. who police said was armed, did not comply when asked to drop his weapon and fired his gun at Portsmouth Police officers, Portsmouth Police said, and officers returned fire. Stoots “suffered a fatal injury consistent with a gunshot wound” and died at the scene, police said, while a 51-year-old woman was taken to the hospital for treatment and is currently in critical but stable condition.
Police said no officers were injured in the incident.
The shooting happened around 8 p.m. in the 40 block of Greeneland Boulevard.
The Portsmouth Police Department requested the Virginia State Police’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation to investigate the shooting in which officers returned fire on the suspect. Portsmouth Police said it would keep investigating the shooting that took place before officers arriving at the scene.
The day after – recollections and video
A neighbor told 10 On Your Side’s KaMaria Braye that he woke up out of his sleep to gunshots and police yelling.
The neighbor said Stoots was his best friend and that, for 13 years, he lived in the home where the shooting took place. He lived with his wife in the home and the neighbor said the couple were “two peas in a pod.”
Arriving at the house on Greenland Boulevard in Portsmouth was the brother of the woman who was shot in the face by her husband, and lived. Stoots, her husband of 20 years, would later be killed by police.
On video, you could hear Portsmouth police responding to the shooting of a suspect who fired on officers after repeatedly being told to “put down the gun.”
It was unnerving for the neighbors to experience.
While 10 On Your Side was at the scene Thursday, neighbor Matthew Ivey showed up to share his video of the hail of gunfire from Wednesday night.
On the video from Charles Johnson, you can hear Portsmouth Police shortly after Stoots opens fire on them, and then they returned fire and killed him.
Johnson lives across the street.
“I looked out the window, pretty much saw them running to the house, and told my wife to get in the back room,” Johnson said. “Yeah, there were probably 10 cops out here in five minutes. I guess he waved his gun the wrong way and they shot him.
10 On Your Side spoke with an eyewitness neighbor who does not want to be heard or named. He confirmed this account as to what happened.
He was asleep, heard police screaming, “put the gun down.” The neighbor looked out the window and saw his neighbor on the front porch. He opened the front door and told the man, his neighbor, to please put the gun down.
The shooter looked at him, said “no,” and then opened fire on police, who shot back, killing him.
Johnson saw police giving CPR on front porch, and recorded it.
“I didn’t see him at all until I saw them giving him CPR on his porch,” Johnson said. “I saw the cops through the window in between the car, pretty much like taking cover, and one on the side of my house. As soon as shots rang out, they took off towards him.”
We don’t yet know at this time how many officers were involved, but they are on standard administrative leave.
Johnson lives across the street from the house.
“I looked at the car,” Johnson said. “I saw two cops running with ARs. One of them was bracing up against the Tahoe. I took the kids inside from the backyard and then heard four or five shots all at the same time.”
It was unnerving for the neighbors.
“I don’t think I’ve processed it yet, honestly.” Johnson said. “It hasn’t actually hit, I don’t think. My wife, it hit her pretty hard right away ’cause they know each other from her being home all day. I’m at work all day.”