RICHMOND, Va. — A 16-year-old high school student was shot and killed inside a Richmond apartment early Wednesday morning as a SWAT team stood outside the apartment prepared to execute a search warrant. Richmond Police say their officers never discharged their weapons during the incident.
Leon Bowling, a student at Richmond High School for the Arts (formerly George Wythe High School) was fatally wounded when gunfire erupted after officers served the search warrant for weapons at the Belt Atlantic Apartments in the 4000 block of Midlothian Turnpike around 5:45 a.m. Wednesday.
"The search warrant was the result of an ongoing investigation into illegal firearms, specifically use of a machine gun for aggressive purposes and possession of auto sear devices or 'switches,'" police explained in an update on Thursday.
According to police, SWAT officers knocked and announced themselves several times before approaching the apartment door.
After a woman exited the apartment, gunfire began from inside the residence. Crime Insider sources say more than a dozen rounds were fired.
SWAT protective shields absorbed gunfire and no officers were injured, Crime Insider sources said.
Two young men later emerged from the apartment and told police a teenager inside was shot. In an update Thursday, police said the two teens, ages 18 and 13, were taken into "investigative detention" at the scene. Police have not said if they will face any charges in connection to the incident.
The teen's family confirmed Bowling died from his injuries Wednesday afternoon and the investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.
Police said Thursday that at this time, there is "no evidence to suggest it was anything other than a self-inflicted wound."
“The loss of a young life is always tragic, and my deepest condolences go out to the family,” said Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards. “At the same time, I am incredibly grateful that none of our officers were killed or seriously injured when they came under fire yesterday. This incident is a powerful reminder of the danger illegal firearms and these ‘conversion devices’ bring to our community, and the Richmond Police Department will continue working tirelessly to get them off our streets.”
Pastor Valerie Coley, a community leader, said the incident highlights ongoing issues with youth violence in the city.
"It's disturbing," Coley said.
Coley emphasized concerns about young people having access to firearms.
"We need to identify where these youth are getting these guns from," she said. "When you have a child that has a weapon in their hands, that's a dangerous place to be because they'll either kill someone else or themselves because they don't have the skills to handle a gun."
The pastor also pointed to broader issues of authority and respect within families and communities.
"If I don't respect authority in my home—the first point of contact of authority—then how am I expected to respect other authority outside of my home?" Coley said.
This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.
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