CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Chesterfield police say the teen who was shot and killed by an off-duty Richmond Police Officer at a car wash over the weekend was unarmed.
Police have identified the teenage victim as 18-year-old Paterson Brown Jr of Chesterfield. Friends of Brown say he graduated James River High School this past May and played football for the school. His name appears on a roster from the 2013-14 season.
At the Sunoco gas station and car wash on Midlothian Turnpike on Monday, it was business as usual. But on Saturday morning, the area was taped off as police investigated the deadly shooting.
Chesterfield police say an off-duty Richmond officer was having his car washed when Brown jumped in the officer’s car and drove it through the wash.
Investigators say the officer told Brown to get out of his car, which led to a confrontation. Brown as shot and killed.
Chesterfield Police now have to determine if the shooting was justified.
8News legal analyst Russ Stone explains the law surrounding justifiable homicide: “If you are simply defending property you should not have the right to use deadly force.”
Stone says investigators will be questioning eyewitnesses and reviewing surveillance video.
Chesterfield police say surveillance video indicates the officer physically struggled with Brown.
Police sources and some published reports indicate Brown appeared to reach to his side for something like a weapon.
“’If that is believed, if the officer was in reasonable fear of his own death, then that does justify the use of deadly force,” says Stone.
Chesterfield police confirm no weapon was found on Brown.
The Richmond Police Officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
The officer has been placed on administrative leave as Chesterfield County Police and Richmond City Police continue to investigate the incident.
This is a developing story. Stay with 8News for updates.
