Police shoot man who attacked woman at Ross store
Seven minutes of violence moved from Ross store on Mooretown Road to Home Depot. Alleged attacker is dead, his victim will be fine, police say.
A 33-year-old North Carolina man randomly attacked a woman leaving the Ross store on Mooretown Road with a box cutter this afternoon, then fled to the nearby Home Depot store where he was shot dead by James City County police.
The violent series of events unfolded in just seven minutes this afternoon, authorities said.
York-Poquoson Sheriff Ron Montgomery said a witness to the attack called 911 at around 3:25 this afternoon to report a woman was being attacked outside the Ross store.
The witness then followed the assailant by car, talking to 911, as he fled into the nearby Home Depot. Both stores are in York County near the James City County line, and all three law enforcement departments in the Historic Triangle share a joint 911 center.
James City County police were first on the scene and were directed by store employees to the tool department, where the man grabbed a claw hammer and charged two officers.
Jamison said police ordered the man to drop the hammer several times. “The individual refused. He lifted the hammer over his head and aggressively ran towards the officers,” who shot him several times, Jamison said.
Police attempted first aid but the assailant was declared dead at the scene. No other shoppers or employees at the stores were injured, police said.
“I will say, and the sheriff would echo this, I'm sure that this profession is getting more dangerous every day. And when we encounter people that are a threat to our officers or our deputies, we have to act. We are responding based on their actions…But my goal and our officers' goal is to keep our community safe. I truly believe this individual could have harmed others, and I truly believe our officers acted in their best interests, and the best interests of the community.”
The two police officers involved in the shooting, whose experience range from 5 to 20 years, are on modified leave pending the investigation, Jamison said.
Sheriff Montgomery said the woman and man did not know each other. He said she was leaving the Ross store when “he randomly picked her.” He said the attacker was believed to have used a box cutter, and deputies were looking for it in the Ross store.
The woman was taken across the street to the Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center for treatment., Montgomery said, “and we hear she’s going to be fine.”
Neither the victim’s name, nor those of her attacker, were released. Montgomery said police were trying to identify next of kin.
Both stores were closed this evening.
Outstanding job. Unfortunate, but glad the Boys in Blue are safe along with the victim.
The State needs to stop shooting people. Period.