Richmond Police: Officer on administrative leave after shooting unarmed suspect

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - Police say a Richmond officer is on administrative leave following a shooting of an unarmed suspect in South Richmond on March 13.

Officer Khaia Jones, who has been with Richmond police for three years, fired her weapon at a suspected wanted in a Hanover robbery from March 11.

The shooting happened in the 6800 block of Forest Hill Avenue in the Granite Hill Shopping Center.

Richmond police confirm the suspect, identified as Thomas Southworth, was transported to a hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Police searched the suspect and the suspect's vehicle and did not find a weapon.

Jones will remain on administrative leave while the incident is investigated.

Richmond Police were working with the Hanover County Sheriff's Office on a robbery case that happened in Mechanicsville on Monday. The suspect's vehicle was spotted in Richmond on Tuesday evening, and police pulled the suspect over.

While police were surrounding the vehicle and giving commands to the suspect, one of the officers discharged her weapon.

A witness in the hair salon says she feels incredibly lucky because normally she walks her clients to their car after their hair appointment.

"So I came back into the salon and lock the door, and was back here cleaning and then I heard all of these people and a lot of noise, and I look out the window and see these police cars and all these people running, and then I heard a gunshot," said the witness. "I was here by myself, so I was freakin'."

She and all of the other witnesses are safe. The suspect is being treated for non-life threatening injuries and police will interview him once he's out of the hospital.

Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham says they will begin an internal investigation into to the use of force, and they will be looking at all available body camera footage to see exactly what happened leading up to the officer-involved shooting.

The Hanover Sheriff's Office says a woman was robbed just before 6 a.m. Monday in the 7400 block of Bell Creek Road, near the Walmart on Route 360. The suspect took her money and purse.

Copyright 2018 WWBT NBC12. All rights reserved.

Report an Error or Submit a Tip to NBC12