RICHMOND, Va (WTVR)- Police say their community walk-throughs are working.
Monday night in the Davee Gardens area, police command staff held a “meet-and-greet” with citizens.
The next day there was a shooting and police say, it’s obvious folks were listening to their message from the night before.
After a foot pursuit and a search through a couple of tool sheds, police spotted a suspect.
Police say it’s clear the community was taking ownership of the “not in my backyard” mentality, helping stop a violent chain of events on the city’s Southside.
“They located a male suffering from multiple gun shots wounds,” said Capt. Harvey Powers. “[Which were] later determined to be non life-threatening."
The suspect had fled the scene of the original shooting on foot and ran toward and alley behind Mike Street.
“I happened to be looking out the kitchen window, and saw a guy,” said neighbor Lyle Hatcher . “I could tell he was running from something."
Confirmation came later when Hatcher said he saw Anthony Brooks, Jr, changing clothes. He dialed 9-1-1.
“He ran in with a black shirt and came out with a white shirt,” said Hatcher. “He was trying to change his appearance."
“[He] came outside and said ‘that's the guy’ down the street,” said Officer Daniel Awad. “He was in the alley and we gave chase."
"I said ‘they went that way.’ and they took off like jack rabbits,” added Hatcher. “ I said that guy don't have a chance."
“We lost sight of him, but our aviation unit picked him up," said Officer Jeremy Nierman.
“Information Mr. Hatcher gave allowed me to zero in and I saw the suspect jumping fences,” said Aviation Officer Wendell Hall. “He had changed his clothes."
About over a mile from the crime scene Officer Wes Moore and K-9 walked up on a shed when the dog alerted the officer to the door.
Police say Brooks was inside, trying to hide in a pile of trash. He has been charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
