NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — During a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew addressed a Tuesday night shooting involving his officers and an armed person they said was experiencing a mental health crisis.
Multiple officers' commands for the man, later identified as 42-year-old Jean Alcindor, to drop his weapon were ignored, according to Chief Drew. The ordeal ended with an exchange of gunfire, injuring the man.
A concerned family member alerted 911 dispatchers about Alcindor’s potentially suicidal behavior and possible drug use at around 8 p.m. on Tuesday. When patrol officers arrived at Cleveland Avenue next to City Center at Oyster Point not long after, Drew said police spotted the man inside a car in possession of a gun which he later fired a round from while still inside the vehicle.
Negotiators were able to get on the phone with Alcindor before 9 p.m.
At around 10:30 p.m., Drew said the suspect left the car holding the gun and walked toward police, firing a second round.
Officers then struggled with Alcindor for control over the weapon.
“As that struggle goes on, a third-round goes off,” Drew said. “And then a fourth round is fired which strikes one of our officers in his department-issued taser that is carried on his duty belt. At that point, officers returned fire and is struck two times."
The chief said officers treated Alcindor until medics arrived. They took him to the hospital where Drew said he is listed as "critical but stable."
During the press conference, Drew reiterated that Alcindor ignored officer commands throughout the night.
"'Please put the gun down, we don’t want to hurt you, don’t make me do this.' There were several, several, several comments numerous times, numerous times — whether on the phone before he got out of the vehicle or after when it becomes much more dangerous situation," said Drew.
Drew praised his officers' actions, saying: “The measures they took to try to de-escalate the before that had to occur was just extraordinary. They were definitely within harm’s way."
The chief said Alcindor now faces drug and weapons-related charges, along with three counts of attempted malicious wounding.
None of the officers needed medical attention on the scene, despite one of them being caught in the crossfire.
Drew also told reporters body-worn cameras were on during the incident, and the entire matter remains under investigation. In the meantime, three officers directly involved with the shootout have been placed on administrative leave