CHESTERFIELD, Va. -- The Watermill neighborhood slowly got back to normal Thursday night after a drama-filled afternoon that included a gun shot, diverted school buses and neighbors told to hunker down or evacuate.
People living in that western Chesterfield community weren't used to seeing dozens of officers strapping on their protective gear and loading up weapons.
"Through my windows I could see officers walking through the backyards of my neighbor’s house," said Tracy Logan.
First police officers, then SWAT showed up, responding to a domestic call about a man barricaded inside a home with a gun.
"We responded to a call for an armed suicidal subject. We got the family out of the house and for a short time had to divert people," said Capt. Brad Badgerow.
That diversion that included school buses. “An elementary school bus stop is in that particular area and they turned the bus away," said Badgerow.
Police say David Crowley did not threaten police, but they were aware he had guns inside the house.
"He did fire off one shot, not aimed at anybody but that's what drove his wife to call us," Badgerow said.
An armored truck, officers with guns, SWAT team members in camouflage came through the neighborhood methodically.
"Pretty shocking, honestly,” said Will Bynum. “You never expect it to happen in your neighborhood especially right down the street."
Police say Crowley was arrested and will face a charge of reckless use of a firearm charge and possibly others. He was taken into custody around 5 p.m. Thursday afternoon.
Neighbors hope things will return to normal quickly. "It’s a very safe and quiet neighborhood,” said Logan.
Court records show that Crowley is due in court Friday morning for an unrelated DUI charge.
