NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk Police Department said the officer who was shot and injured in a shootout with a suspect on Saturday is a 19-year veteran of the force.
57-year-old Officer Sean Blackwell was shot multiple times after police were called to assist a Child Protective Services call on Arcadia Street. Police returned fire, and the suspect, 29-year-old Samuel Burton, was also shot several times.
Officer Blackwell is expected to be OK. A Norfolk police spokesperson said he has been released from the hospital and is at home, recovering. Burton, meanwhile, remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
Bilal Muhammad, a well-known gun violence activist in Norfolk, said he not only knows the injured police officer but that Officer Blackwell has stood beside him in his message for ending gun violence.
"A fine gentleman, always supported us with Stop The Violence teams and many other grassroots groups," Muhammad said. "He always was vigilant with us in the community and that's the type of leadership, the type of support Hampton Roads needs."
Norfolk police said that when officers came to the home on Arcadia Street on Saturday afternoon, they located 23-year-old Cassandra Smith who got "combative" with the officers.
While trying to de-escalate the situation, Norfolk police said Burton came out of the house and began opening fire. Police returned fire, hitting Burton.
Police said Smith is charged with two counts of conspiracy to assault law enforcement, obstructing justice, and disorderly conduct and that once Burton is released from the hospital, he will be taken to Norfolk City Jail for similar charges.
Smith was arraigned on Monday, where a judge denied her bond. The judge pointed to the nature of the alleged crimes, saying the charges were so severe that Smith still posed an unreasonable danger to the public.
Smith is due back in court on September 4. She is currently held at Norfolk City Jail.