One man hurt in officer-involved shooting; officers not injured

Published 9:51 pm Wednesday, September 16, 2020

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Suffolk Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that happened Wednesday evening.

Officers responded to the 5500 block of Godwin Boulevard looking for a wanted subject after receiving confirmed warrants from Smithfield on charges against the subject, according to a press release from city spokeswoman Diana Klink.

Officers arrived and encountered the subject that was armed with a firearm, the press release stated, and shots were exchanged, with the adult male subject sustaining gunshot wounds. No officers were injured.

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The previous charges against the subject included burglary of a residence, discharging a firearm in an occupied dwelling, malicious shooting and displaying a firearm in a threatening manner, the press release stated.

Klink said officers provided first aid until the arrival of Suffolk Fire & Rescue personnel, who then provided emergency medical assessment and treatment. The subject was airlifted by Nightingale to a local hospital with serious injuries.

An Internal Affairs investigation and separate criminal investigation are under way, the press release stated. The involved officers have been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of both investigations.

Klink said she could not say how many officers were involved in the incident and provided no further details. She also did not provide the time of the shooting, but multiple officers were seen speeding north on Godwin Boulevard around 7:45 p.m.

The investigation was unfolding around the Friendship Cathedral Church on Wednesday evening, although there was no indication the church was involved with the shooting in any way. The church sits right on Godwin Boulevard adjacent to Oakland Elementary School. Personnel from the church arrived at the scene during the investigation and were conversing with police.

Neighbors watching the investigation unfold on Wednesday evening said they didn’t know anything about what happened. Some said they heard the gunshots as they were eating dinner, although they initially attributed the sound to fireworks or a car backfiring.