74-year-old man dies in officer-involved shooting

HOPEWELL, Va. (WWBT) - A 74-year-old Hopewell man died Wednesday night in an officer-involved shooting.

The Hopewell Police Department says officers responded to reports of a man actively firing shots just before 7:25 p.m. in the 2700 block of Gordon Street.

When officers arrived, they said they saw the suspect holding two firearms.

“He called me and asked if anything happened to him, would I take care of his cat,” Hopewell neighbor Lewis Browder said. “And the next thing I know, he was over there shooting.”

Browder said that was the last time he saw his next-door neighbor of 40 years, Berkley Lee Collins Jr., alive.

“He was shooting up in the air, and that’s when the police arrived, and took him out,” Browder said.

Hopewell police said Wednesday night they got a call that the 74-year-old was shooting in a neighborhood on Gordon Street.

“I heard yelling and screaming and stuff, and then I heard shots, lots of shots going off and hit the floor because I didn’t know where it was coming from or anything,” neighbor Ann King said.

King was in her backyard when shots rang out.

“The officer was leaning against my house with the rifle, and he told him about four or five times to put the guns down,” Browder said.

Police said when Collins didn’t comply and shot his gun again, officers fired back.

“I just think something pushed him over the edge to do this. This just didn’t seem like a normal thing for him to do,” King said.

In a statement, Hopewell Police Chief Gregory Taylor said no officers were injured and said:

“Every day, our police officers put their lives on the line to protect and serve our community. 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.”

“He was a good buddy,” Browder said of Collins. “A good friend. It’s just a tragic thing to happen.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations at 804-674-2133 or the Hopewell Prince George Crime Solvers hotline in Hopewell at 804-541-2202.

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