Chesterfield Police shares more information on deadly officer-involved shooting

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — 8News spoke to Deputy Police Chief Brad Badgerow of the Chesterfield County Police Department on Wednesday for more information on the chase and shooting on Sunday, Oct. 6 that left a suspect dead and three officers on administrative leave.

The pursuit began just before 5 a.m. on Jessup Road near Iron Bridge Road, when 46-year-old Shawn Hill was pulled over for erratic driving. Badgerow said Hill got out of the car and ignored the officer’s instructions to stay seated inside.

“When he approached the officer, he was argumentative and almost immediately became combative,” Badgerow said. “He was attacking our Officer. Our officer created some distance, was giving him commands, attempted to de-escalate things, using his pepper spray and his [stun gun].”

Badgerow said the pepper spray and stun gun were not effective against Hill, who continued punching and grabbing the officer. Badgerow said Hill attempted to take the officer’s firearm, and when he failed, he quickly got back into his car and drove off.

Hill drove north on Jessup Road and turned into a neighborhood located off Pineland Road. After realizing there was no exit, police said he turned the car around, pulled out a gun and fired at the pursuing police vehicle as he passed.

Back at the intersection of Pineland Road and Jessup Road, Hill encountered another officer’s vehicle, which he shot at several times before the officer returned fire. The two officers continued following Hill on Jessup Road and a third officer joined to assist.

Hill fired at all three officers and the two who were dispatched to assist with the pursuit returned fire. Hill’s vehicle came to a stop on Iron Bridge Road near where the chase began and he was pronounced dead.

“He may not have even gotten a ticket, depending on how things were going, but he escalated things,” Badgerow said.

None of the officers were injured, but all three have been placed on administrative leave in accordance with department policy.

“Nobody wants a call for service like this ever — it’s a tragedy for the family involved,” Badgerow said. “At the same time, it’s very tragic for our department, for these specific officers… They are dealing with having been forced to use this level of force, whereas if this suspect had just simply done what he was asked, you never know what would have happened.”

Chesterfield Police did not tell 8News what took place between the time Hill’s car came to a stop and when he was pronounced dead. The incident is still under investigation, anyone with more information is asked to contact the Chesterfield County Police Department at 804-748-1251.

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