Lynchburg, Virginia — On February 2, 2023, at 9:26 p.m. the Lynchburg Police Department got a call about shots fired near 700 Grady Street. Officer John Person was nearby and saw a vehicle matching the description of one involved in that shots fired call. He pursued it.
The suspect, 25-year-old Ry’Heam Brown was driving and after coming to a narrow road, jumped out of the car and ran off. After a short foot chase, LPD said the officer encountered the suspect in an alleyway in the 1400 block of 17th Street. Officer Person closed the distance between himself and Brown. The officer pointed his firearm at Brown and commanded Brown to get on the ground. As Officer Person attempts to take Brown down, Brown continues to try to get up.
That’s when Person notices the gun in Brown’s right hand as he attempts to get up, leading to Person shooting Brown 6 times.
Officer Person approached Brown once other officers were on scene and found the firearm lying next to Brown’s right side on the ground. Officer Person picked up and threw the gun away from Brown. Officer Person’s commanding officer arrived on the scene and ordered Person be escorted from the area with another LPD Officer. Chest compressions on Brown were initiated by LPD officers until medics with the Lynchburg Fire Department arrived and took over care of Brown. By 9:50 p.m. resuscitation was discontinued as Brown was deceased.
