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Investigation continues into Richmond Police shooting of Henrico man in East End

George Copeland Jr. | 3/10/2022, 6 p.m.
Two Richmond Police officers have been put on temporary administrative leave after shooting and killing a white man Sunday night …

Two Richmond Police officers have been put on temporary administrative leave after shooting and killing a white man Sunday night in the East End.

The officers, identified as Shannon McGarva and Richard Redford, responded to a call in the 1200 block of Garber Street in Fulton Hill about an armed man on the front porch of a person’s home.

When officers arrived about 10:43 p.m., they saw a man with a gun and commanded him to drop his firearm, according to details provided by Chief Gerald M. Smith during a news conference Monday.

Chief Smith said the man became aggressive and pointed the gun at the officers. At that point, he said, the officers shot the man, who was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries.

The man was identified Tuesday by police as Lester Carlton Epps, 58, of Henrico.

“We have no idea right now exactly what his actions were, but we do know that his aggression went up upon the officers’ arrival,” Chief Smith said at the news conference.

He also said that Mr. Epps’ gun was loaded, but that it isn’t clear if the weapon possibly misfired or never actually discharged during the confrontation.

The officers’ body camera footage of the shooting has not been released.

The officers were placed on 48-hour administrative leave, the chief said, as police investigate the shooting, including reviewing video from the officers’ body cameras, canvassing the neighborhood, talking with witnesses and those involved in the incident and looking into Mr. Epps’ history.

After the officers’ 48-hour leave has ended, Chief Smith said the department would “re-evaluate” whether they should return to work in some capacity or have the leave extended.

Officer Redford has been with the Richmond Police Department for 11 years, while Officer McGarva has served five years with the department.

Chief Smith said Mr. Epps had no connection to or relationship with the residents of the home on Garber Street.

He also offered no explanation for why the two officers opted to use their firearms instead of nonlethal methods to de-escalate the situation or subdue Mr. Epps.

Once the police department’s investigation is complete, the information will be turned over to the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for review, according to Chief Smith.