NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — An incident that all began as a call to help child protective services quickly escalated Saturday.
“Any police chief would say it’s the worst possible phone call for you to get,” said Norfolk Police Chief Mark Talbot.
According to Talbot, when officers responded to a home on Arcadia Street, officers were met by a combative 23 year old Cassandra Smith before then being confronted by gunfire from 29-year-old Samuel M. Burton, which led to the suspect and Norfolk Police Officer Sean Blackwell being shot.
Police confirm that Blackwell is 57-years-old. He’s been with NPD for 19 years.
“It’s often a reality for the men and women who are out doing the job every day,” Talbot said. “It’s not potentially life-threatening. For many of them it is life-threatening.”
Blackwell is now back at home recovering. What still concerns nearby neighbors and Talbot is the sad reality that these shootings keep happening.
“Strange thing to even talk about people who are choosing unprovoked to shoot at police officers,” Talbot said. “That makes them some of the most dangerous people in society. None of us can tolerate it. If that is what police officers face, nobody else in the neighborhood has much of a chance.”
He’s grateful for the officers who choose to protect and serve, a role he says shouldn’t be taken lightly.
“While others get to convalesce and take time to grieve and recover, that’s not how it works in this business,” Talbot said, “so we will continue to do everything that we need to do to keep this city safe.”
Burton has been charged with attempted aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation is continuing to investigate the actions of the officers involved in this shooting. Anyone who may have information about the shooting is asked to contact the Norfolk Crime Line or Virginia State Police.
All involved officers will be placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of this investigation.