Juvenile charged after allegedly carjacking vehicle, fatally striking cyclist during police pursuit

A juvenile male faces five charges, including felony murder, after Henrico Police officials say they believe he stole a car in Eastern Henrico Aug. 7, then fatally struck another juvenile who was riding his bicycle on Williamsburg Road.

The juvenile suspect, wearing a mask, is alleged to have approached a man in the 4300 block of Lakefield Mews Drive at about 10:30 p.m., brandished a firearm and demanded the victim’s vehicle, which he then got in and drove off.

Police officers located the vehicle and initiated a pursuit on Williamsburg Road. The suspect was traveling at a high rate of speed, according to police, and struck the bicyclist from behind. The suspect’s vehicle crashed into a utility pole and stopped near Williamsburg Road and Millers Lane, and police immediately took him into custody and recovered a firearm.

The juvenile suspect was transported to an area hospital for injuries and later discharged into police custody.

The juvenile cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.

In addition to the murder charge, the juvenile suspect also faces charges of carjacking, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a juvenile and felony eluding.

Though circumstances surrounding the pursuit were not immediately clear, Henrico Police are expected to adhere to an 11-page department policy that outlines when and how (or if) pursuits are to be conducted.

That policy dictates that pursuits should be initiated in only three specific situations:

• if the officer believes that 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 is excluded unless it meets one of the following two criteria);

• the occupant(s) of the vehicle is wanted for a violent felony or any firearm-related offense (which was the case in Monday's incident); or

• 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.

"The decision to initiate a pursuit is a difficult one," that policy says. "The decision to terminate a pursuit is even more difficult. Professional judgment and objective reasonableness are the determining factors."

No more than two police vehicles are permitted to engage in the same pursuit, according to the policy, "unless the acknowledging supervisor determines, in their sole discretion, that more units are necessary." The police also permits that supervisor to participate in the pursuit at his or her discretion.

Legally, a police officer and supervisor can be held civilly liable for damages and injuries that occur during a pursuit.