The Hanover County Sheriff’s Office claims a suspect shot at deputies before turning the gun on himself. According to HCSO, the Communications Center received a call about a suspicious person spotted on a Ring camera in the 6200 block of Queens Lace Road around 11 p.m. on March 24, 2024. At the scene, Hanover deputies spotted a subject in a rear yard wearing dark clothing and a mask. The subject was allegedly hiding in a pile of leaves.
As deputies began giving commands, the suspect allegedly pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired at deputies. Deputies took cover and requested assistance before the suspect turned the gun on himself. As deputies approached, they found the suspect unconscious but breathing.
HCSO says the subject suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. 39-year-old David Eric Burnett of Mechanicsville was transported to VCU Medical Center where he remains on life support. No deputies were injured. They did not return fire before Burnett shot himself, according to HCSO.
Jay Skelton is an independent crime journalist with a passion for covering the uncovered and the under covered.