HENRICO COUNTY, Va. — A teenage cyclist was killed and another teenager was charged with murder after a carjacking and police pursuit in eastern Henrico County.
Henrico Police were called to the 4300 block of Lakefield Mews Drive, at about 10:34 p.m. Monday, to investigate a carjacking.
"Officers spoke with the complainant who stated he was approached by a masked male who brandished a firearm. The suspect then got inside the victim’s vehicle and fled the scene," a Henrico Police spokesperson said. "Officers were able to locate the vehicle and a pursuit was initiated."
Police said the driver, while speeding down Williamsburg Road, hit a bicyclist from behind before crashing into a utility pole near Williamsburg Road and Millers Lane.
The teenage bicyclist involved in the crash is Geormond "Geo" Morton, 17, according to his family members. His sister, Kemmonie Kearney, said Morton was a rising senior at Armstrong High School.
Morton's family says the teenager was biking home from his shift at a Wendy's restaurant when he was struck by the speeding vehicle Monday night.
The driver was treated at the hospital and later arrested. He now faces the following charges:
• Carjacking
• Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony
• Possession of a Firearm by a Juvenile
• Felony Eluding
• Felony Murder
Morton was pronounced dead at the scene.
Henrico Police shared its pursuit policy, which states in part:
INITIATING A PURSUIT
Police Division members shall use professional judgment in determining whether to initiate a pursuit. A pursuit should be initiated only when the officer reasonably believes:
A. The occupant(s) of the vehicle has committed or is attempting to commit, a felony, any firearm-related offense, or any misdemeanor that involves an act of violence against a person
(Shoplifting shall be excluded from this criterion unless it meets I. B or C.); or
B. The occupant(s) of the vehicle is wanted for a violent felony or any firearm-related offense;
or
C. The originating violation before the attempt to perform a traffic stop is reckless driving, and the fleeing vehicle presents an immediate threat of bodily injury or death to any person
Henrico Police said they recovered a gun in the crashed car.
A GoFundme page was started by Morton's family to cover his funeral expenses. You can click, here, to view the fundraiser.
This is a developing story, so anyone with more information can email newstips@wtvr.com to send a tip.
