RICHMOND, Va. — A man is facing multiple charges after gunfire broke out at Ann Hardy Plaza on Richmond's East End Tuesday night, prompting a joint police response from Richmond and Henrico officers.
Police responded to the park just after 8:30 p.m. Tuesday after shots were fired at a large group that had gathered there. Witnesses reported that individuals fired weapons at people on foot and in their cars. Many of those people drove off in unknown directions as police arrived.
With the help of Henrico Police, officers arrested Tyrell Higgins Jr., 20, of Henrico.
According to court documents, Higgins attempted to drive away with his headlights off before police followed, attempting to stop him multiple times. Police say Higgins struck a parked car before eventually running from the vehicle with an AR-style rifle, dropping it multiple times as he fled. Officers detained Higgins and recovered the rifle. Further investigation revealed that Higgins was driving a stolen vehicle.
Higgins is facing multiple charges including grand larceny of a vehicle, hit and run, and reckless handling of a firearm.
Nearby resident Elizabeth Whitby said she heard the gunfire from her home. She has lived in the area since 2012 and had never seen anything like it.
"Last night was so out of the ordinary," Whitby said. "Usually it's like three or four just random gunfire. This, to me, felt like 50 to 60 [shots]."
The volume and proximity of the shots left Whitby shaken.
"It was so close that I was like, are we going to have a random gunshot through the house?" Whitby said. "I peeked out around the window to kind of see, and I saw people running out from the site, and that's when I called 911."
Whitby expressed concern for the children who regularly use the park.
"It's a city park and there's multiple children that play there," Whitby said. "I have children next door to me. What happens if they are outside playing and they get hit or it goes through a window and hits an innocent person who's just sitting on their couch just watching TV?"
While Whitby said she is thankful for the swift response from police, she said she hopes to see the city's youth take advantage of the resources already available at the park, including a community center and playground at its center.
"It's got game rooms and stuff built into it, so the ease of access is there for people to do it. We just need to figure out how to do it," Whitby said. "Those are sacred areas. You should be able to send your kid to the park."
Michael Mayhew has lived on Richmond's Northside for decades.
"Nobody got hurt. It's a blessing, you know," Mayhew said. "I don't have no reservations of walking. It's a nice neighborhood, a good neighborhood, you know what I mean? But every so often, things happen."
Mayhew said he will continue trying to make a difference in his neighborhood.
"I try to talk to the young ones and them, because like I said, we were young too. Some of us have done silly things. But it seems like it's extended more and more."
This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.
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