COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Virginia – Witnesses and police are calling it a miracle that no one died after police believe several snipers fired multiple shots outside the Waffle House in Colonial Heights on Saturday morning.
Police found at least 100 shell casings used in the Waffle House parking lot on 2002 Boulevard. It was there that the police were called at 2:30 am to report gunfire.
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“I was sleeping and I heard ‘boom, boom’. Two shots, ”recalls Dean Hines. “Whenever I got up, I would probably hear 20 more shots.”
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The flood of exchanged shots followed what the police said was a late-night argument between two groups.
“They started shooting at the Waffle House and ended up at my house by drilling a hole in my back door,” said Mike Johnston, who lives near the restaurant.
Johnston woke up with bullet holes and capsules on his property.
“It looked like an AK-47 was in the Waffle House parking lot and a pistol shooting here,” said Johnston. “They were pulling the bullets out. I’m surprised there hasn’t been any more damage around here. “
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Two victims, a 19-year-old man from Alexandria and a 25-year-old man from Richmond, went to hospitals in the area, police said.
None of the injuries were fatal, according to officials.
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“Before the initial shooting, several individuals were inside the Waffle House,” said Major William H. Anspach of Colonial Heights Police. “An argument between individuals broke out and spread across the parking lot, where the result was several individuals shooting each other.”
Colonial Heights Police
While investigators are looking for several snipers in the crowd that has spread afterwards, they are asking the public for help to identify a person of interest, a man wearing a Chicago Bulls shirt who was inside the Waffle House before the chaos.
“Some people have an argument and, instead of agreeing to disagree and leave, they decide to go out and turn this into a shootout that could have killed anyone,” said Anspach.
Anyone with information about the shooting should call Detective Sergeant AC Brandeberry at 804-520-9300 option 7, or by email at [email protected].
“If you have information but would like to remain anonymous, contact Chesterfield County / Colonial Heights Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660, or you can send a tip using the mobile app,” said the police.
This is a developing story, so anyone with more information can send an email to [email protected] to send a tip.