Richmond officer shot during welfare check; woman arrested after hourslong standoff: police
RICHMOND, Calif. (KGO) -- A Richmond police officer who was shot while responding to a behavioral health crisis call Thursday evening has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home with his family, authorities said Friday.
Officer Justin Church was wounded shortly after arriving at a residence on Key Boulevard between Macdonald and Humboldt avenues around 6:45 p.m. According to Richmond police, Contra Costa County's behavioral health crisis response team had requested police assistance at the home.
Police said the first responding officer was "almost immediately" met with gunfire. Investigators say a woman inside the residence barricaded herself and continued firing, striking nearby homes, vehicles and a police patrol car.
Neighbors described hearing an intense exchange of gunfire.
"It sounded like rifle rounds, not a pistol," said Jason C., who lives next door to the home. "Police showed up shortly after the shots started."
Jason said he heard dozens of rounds and watched officers swarm the area.
"From our back window we can see the backyard, and that's where we saw SWAT coming in from the back and doing their whole tactical operation," he said.
The shooting prompted an hourslong standoff and lockdown of the surrounding neighborhood as heavily armed officers and SWAT personnel worked to contain the situation.
Residents reported hearing loud explosions as law enforcement deployed tear gas.
"These windows here, that's why they're all broken out," Jason said. "Tear gas started flooding all of these houses around here because it started to affect us."
Nearby resident Kirk, who declined to provide his last name, said he initially thought a gunshot had gone off near his home.
"I was just at home and heard a loud bang very close and thought it was a gunshot," he said.
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Another resident, Dan Harrington, was heading to a nearby gym when he encountered the large police response.
"It looked like July 4th or Christmas. It was all lit up," Harrington said.
Concerned for people who might have been in the area, Harrington said his first thought was for those inside nearby businesses.
"I'm an infrequent visitor to the gym, but I know some people who come regularly, and my first thought was, are they okay?" he said.
Police said the woman eventually exited the residence and surrendered. She was taken into custody without further incident. Authorities said no one else was injured.
On Friday afternoon, Richmond police released a photograph showing Officer Church surrounded by fellow officers as he was discharged from the hospital. The department said he is now recovering at home with his family.
Despite the violence, neighbors expressed sympathy for everyone involved.
"I just feel for the lady," Jason said. "I hope she's alright. She will be in my prayers and in my heart."
Richmond police said additional details about the shooting and investigation are expected to be released early next week.
