GOOCHLAND, Va. (WAVY/WRIC) – Virginia State Police (VSP) troopers reportedly shot and killed a man early Saturday morning who, after leading state police on a high-speed chase on Interstate 64, allegedly displayed a firearm as officers approached his crashed vehicle.
According to state police, at 4:35 a.m. on Jan. 9, police radar registered a 2003 Mercedes Benz C230 going 98 mph in a 65 mph zone westbound on I-64 in Goochland County.
Officials say the trooper turned on his emergency lights and siren, and as they pursued the vehicle in question, the driver refused to stop and exceeded speeds of 120 mph as officers gave chase.
The driver attempted to make a u-turn around mile marker 172, but the Mercedes slid down the embankment and became stuck in the median.
VSP said in a statement posted to Twitter that two troopers approached the vehicle and gave the driver “repeated verbal commands to exit his vehicle and show his hands.”
The driver, later identified as 18-year-old Xzavier D. Hill, of Charlottesville, then allegedly “displayed a firearm and was subsequently shot.”
Police say a handgun was recovered from inside the Mercedes.
Officials say the troopers immediately called EMS and Hill died at the scene.
The troopers involved, who were uninjured in the chase and shooting, have been placed on administrative leave while the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Richmond Field Office investigates.
State police have not released the names of the troopers involved.
No further information is available.