HOPEWELL, Va. -- A man was shot and killed by Hopewell police Monday morning, police sources confirmed to CBS 6 senior reporter Wayne Covil.
Virginia State Police confirmed Monday afternoon that they were investigating the officer-involved shooting.
The chaotic scene started to unfold around 10:15 a.m when Hopewell officers spotted a man driving east down the railroad tracks in the 4700 block of Western Street.
Once police were on the scene, state police said that the adult male driver stopped the vehicle, but refused to get out.
"After more than an hour of attempted negotiations with the man, he began making threatening gestures towards the officers. The man was shot and died at the scene," Virginia State Police spokesperson Sgt. Stephan Vick said in a news release.
The shooting happened near the exit ramp from Interstate 295 to Oaklawn Blvd/Route 36 west. The ramp was closed for about an hour Monday morning while police dealt with the situation. The ramp reopened at about 12:20 p.m.
Witnesses said they heard five gunshots as police surrounded a vehicle near Cousins Ave.
"Wow, this is such a quiet area. Nothing ever happens back here," neighbor Martin Sams said -- surprised that the chaos led to the road being blocked off for more than 8 hours.
Sams and other drivers were caught off guard when they learned an officer shot and killed the driver.
Police have not revealed the man's identity.
Hopewell's police chief asked state police to investigate the shooting.
"Upon completion of the state police investigation, the findings will be turned over to the Commonwealth Attorney for final review and adjudication," Vick wrote.
