PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A man who Portsmouth police say was stealing from a convenience store died after an employee shot him Thursday afternoon, according to police.
Police say they were told Rahsaan Nixon, 27, was stealing items from the Essex Food Store in the 2400 block of High Street. After Nixon began stealing items, a store employee shot him, police say.
Nixon left the store after he was shot, but died later at a local hospital, police say.
News 3 went to the store Friday to try to talk to someone but was told the manager was not available.
The shooting was the first of two in the city on the Fourth of July, but police said they are not connected.
Watch: Man shot near Portsmouth waterfront after July 4 fireworks
The second shooting happened around 10 p.m. on the waterfront by the Renaissance hotel.
A woman who says she helped the victim had just gotten off the ferry in Portsmouth with her kids when they saw a man run up to a police officer at the intersection of London and Crawford St.
“I saw this blood all over his shirt," she said. The officer gave her paper towels to stop the bleeding, she said, because that was all they had.
The woman did not want to be identified because she worried the suspect might come after her or the victim.
Watch: Mural painted to help address gun violence in Portsmouth
“He kept asking about his wife, he kept asking about his children," the woman said. "I didn't know if he was shot at first. I asked him if he was shot or stabbed. He said 'I was stabbed.' I said 'Do you know how many times?' He said 'I don't know,' but he said 'I can't breathe.' So, I lifted up his shirt to see if there was any other shots on the front. Didn't see anything. he then took my hand, put it over his chest right where the gunshot wound was."
Pictures sent to News 3 show police cars with their lights on Thursday night around a boat docked along Water Street.
All along this sidewalk and street from the boat leading up to the intersection of Crawford and Glasgow Street, there was still a trail of blood Friday. That trail continued down Crawford St. up to the intersection of Crawford and London where the shooting victim was treated.
Friday, police announced a warrant had been issued for 47-year-old Randall Bagley, Jr.
Watch: Portsmouth police, community partner for anti-violence initiative
At the scene of the Thursday night shooting Friday, News 3 spoke with Kevin Prevatte, who says he heard the shooting.
“All I had heard was a pop," Prevatte explained.
Prevatte said he was outside the Renaissance when the shooting happened.
“It’s unfortunate that these kind of incidents happen in cities that are bigger," Prevatte said. "As you get older, I hate to use the word acceptance, but it’s like a part of our reality now. I guess we do kind of become numb to it."
Portsmouth Police Chief Stephen Jenkins released a statement Friday, calling gun violence unfortunate.
"It is unfortunate that violence continues to afflict communities nationwide, even during festive occasions like the Fourth of July, and Portsmouth is no exception.”
As of Friday, both shootings remained under investigation.
Jenkins asks anyone with information is to contact police by calling 757-393-8536 or 911. You can also leave a tip through the P3 Tips app.
