NORFOLK, Va. — A man has died after a shooting involving Norfolk Police.
The Norfolk Police Department said the incident happened around 2:50 p.m. in the area of Hampton Boulevard and Terminal Boulevard.
According to police, officers were pursuing a vehicle that had a wanted suspect inside when the suspect vehicle crashed. Police claim the suspect fired a gun at the officers, who returned fire.
The suspect, Santonio P. Lee, 45, was transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with life-threatening injuries where he was later pronounced dead.
Lee’s criminal record includes an involuntary manslaughter conviction in 2009. He also pleaded guilty to eluding police in 2001.
Virginia State Police have been asked to investigate the shooting. Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney Ramin Fatehi tells 13News Now that his office will ultimately determine if the use of force by police was justified.
"The public can have confidence that they have an independent set of law enforcement eyes on this and that I, as an independent official, will make an independent decision without fear or favor whether the actions here were justified, or heaven forbid, were not," Fatehi told 13News Now at the scene of the shooting.
It is the second shooting to involve Norfolk police so far this year. On Jan. 18, a man died after he was shot by a Norfolk police officer and a security guard in the Wards Corner area of the city.