NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A man is in the hospital after he was shot following a standoff with officers Tuesday night, police say.
Around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19, officers were sent to the 600 block of Cleveland Ave. after police say they were informed of an armed suicidal subject inside a car.
Police say it escalated into a standoff, and the TAC Unit and negotiators were called.
Police say the suspect is 42-year old Jean Alcindor.
Alcindor got out of the car and walked toward officers with a gun in his hand, according to police. When officers tried to de-escalate the situation, the man raised the gun near the officers and shots were exchanged, police say.
"At 10:29, the subject exited the vehicle with a firearm in his hands and you hear an officer say 'I’m not going to do that, I’m not going to shoot him,'" Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said during a press conference. "In 30 seconds, the subject is in close proximity of the officers and fires a round. Another round is fired."
Chief Drew says that's when things escalated even further.
"As that struggle goes on, a third round goes off and then a fourth round goes off and strikes one of his officers in his department issued taser that’s on his duty belt," Drew said. "At that point, the officers return fire and the victim is struck two times. The officers immediately begin to provide medical attention.
Watch the full press conference from Newport News Chief Steve Drew
The officer involved shooting happened on Cleveland Avenue, where the suspect lives.
Police say Alcindor was hit and taken to the hospital. Alcindor had surgery after being shot and is in critical condition.
News 3's Leondra Head went to Alcindor's residence to speak to his family but no one came to the door.
Alcindor is facing drug charges and malicious wounding charges.
Police say the three officers involved in the officer involved shooting have been placed on administrative leave.
News
Newport News police chief warns of mental health struggles facing officers
News 3 reporter Kelsey Jones spoke with a woman sitting outside where the incident happened. She said her son lives with Alcindor.
"It's scary because you never know what someone is going through," said roommate's mother.
She says her son and Alcindor lived together for three months. She also added that her son never saw any red flags and was asleep during the incident.
She says her son woke up to officers at his door.
"They just have him waiting until they finish the search warrant," she said. "He had already given them all of the information that he has, so we're just waiting."
Clinical psychologist Dr. Sarah Williams told News 3 10% of calls to police are related to mental health issues. She said there are warnings signs to look out for before it goes this far.
News
Mental health response team in Newport News provides support to those in need
“First and foremost if someone verbally communicates to harm themselves or someone else, reckless behavior participating in alcohol, drinking, drugs, driving or other behaviors that are risky, in addition to that anger, explosive types of responses, things that are normally out of character for the individual,” said Williams.
Williams said she uses the acronym "LAW" to help people in crisis. It stands for listening intently and empathetically, acknowledging the person's feelings, and warning law enforcement.
One officer was injured during the incident when he was shot in his taser - which was on his duty belt. Police say he did not need medical attention.
