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Police: Chesterfield driver 'intentionally steered' toward pedestrians, killing woman walking in neighborhood

Posted at 3:03 PM, Mar 26, 2024
and last updated 2024-03-28 17:48:35-04

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- A driver hit and killed a woman who was walking in her Chesterfield County neighborhood, according to Chesterfield Police.

The driver, who police identified as 22-year-old Daniel N. Anderson, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

The situation unfolded Monday night, just before 7 p.m., in the Amherst neighborhood off Route 1 after police said Anderson called the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) "identified himself, and made multiple threatening statements, including threats to shoot a school, bomb a building, and assault police officers."

"When officers arrived on Amherst Ridge Loop, they found that a motor vehicle crash had occurred involving a 2012 Hyundai and two pedestrians. Officers quickly determined that the driver of the vehicle, identified as Anderson, was the same man who had called the ECC and made threatening statements," a Chesterfield Police spokesperson wrote in an email. "Anderson, who was not injured, was detained at the scene. The pedestrians were transported to an area hospital."

Shaunda Bizzell, 42, of the 16700 block of Amherst Ridge Place, died at the hospital, according to police. The second pedestrian survived.

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Shaunda Bizzell

Bizzell was remembered by family members as a kind person, and that she was walking with her husband at the time of the wreck.

"The preliminary investigation indicates that Anderson, of the 2700 block of Amherst Ridge Loop, intentionally steered his vehicle toward the pedestrians," police said. "Investigators arrested Anderson and charged him with second-degree murder, malicious wounding, making threats of death or bodily injury, and making threats to bomb or damage buildings. He is currently being held at the Chesterfield County Jail without bond."

In a phone call with CBS 6 Tuesday, Anderson's father said that his son has a documented history of a mental health disorder and that he had an episode Monday afternoon.

He says the two had an argument before Anderson walked out of their home, but he claims he didn't know that his son also took the keys to the car with him.

They say they are devastated that Bizzell lost her life in the wreck.

To help support Derek and the Bizzell family, you can donate to this GoFundMe page.

This is a developing story. If you can more information email the CBS 6 Newsroom.

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