PETERSBURG, Va. — Police shot a man following a separate fatal shooting at a Petersburg apartment complex early Wednesday morning.
Petersburg Police said the incident began shortly before 4:45 a.m. at the Summit Pointe Apartments (formerly known as Lee Hall Apartments) off Fort Lee Road.
Officers responded to a 911 call just before 5 a.m. and found a body inside an apartment on Oak Lane within the complex.
Police brought in K-9 Elvis, a tracking dog, who followed a scent from the fatal shooting scene along Hickory and Linda Lane, eventually leading officers to two suspects within the same apartment complex.
Sources said one suspect had a gun and exchanged fire with officers. Deputy Chief Emmanuel Chambliss said investigators are still working to determine who fired first.
"We don't know who potentially shot first at this time," Chambliss said.
Sources said the suspect was shot twice in the legs. The injured suspect was taken to the hospital. The second suspect was taken into custody and is being interviewed by investigators.
"No injuries to any law enforcement officers," Chambliss said.
The shooting happened as many children in the complex were getting ready for school. One neighbor, who asked not to be identified out of concern for his safety and his family's safety, said he watched young children scatter when the shooting began.
"Most of the kids ran all the way down to the end of the corner and sat there, cause they still had to go to school," the man said.
The father of four said he has concerns about safety at the complex.
"A murder just happened and then it all be over little stuff — not nothing you should want to ruin the rest of your life for," he said.
Pastor Belinda Baugh of New Devine Worship Center arrived at the scene to provide comfort to concerned residents. She said one mother told her she was getting her children ready for school when the shooting broke out.
"She stated that she was getting her children up and prepared for school when she heard a lot of gunshots," Baugh said.
Baugh said she is concerned about what she described as a growing number of violent crimes in the city.
"Everybody says it's the guns. Guns don't kill, people do," Baugh said.
Baugh called on the community to get more involved in preventing violence before it happens.
"We have to come up with a plan," Baugh said. "More neighborhood watchmen in your community. If we always say, if you see something, say something, we can actually be involved ahead of time," Baugh said.
Because the shooting involved police, Virginia State Police are conducting the officer-involved shooting investigation for transparency. Petersburg Police remain in charge of the death investigation on Oak Lane. State police crime units are processing multiple scenes within the complex, including Hickory Lane, where the police shooting took place.
Police advise avoiding the area due to road closures and heavy law enforcement presence. They also remind residents that if gunfire erupts nearby while indoors, the safest action is to get on the floor and remain still until the danger passes.
Petersburg Police ask anyone with information about what happened at Summit Pointe Apartments on Wednesday morning to call Crime Solvers at 804-861-1212 or submit a tip through the P3 tips app.
This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.
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