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Berkley Lee Collins Jr.

Age : 74

Gender : Male

Race : Unknown

Date : 08/30/2023

Location : 2700 block of Gordon Street

City : Hopewell

County : Prince George

State : Virginia

Agency : Hopewell Police Department

Officer(s) :Not disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during response to reports of gunfire

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/30/2023, at approximately 7:25 p.m., Hopewell Police Department officers responded to the 2700 block of Gordon Street after a 911 report of a man actively firing a gun in the neighborhood. The man was subsequently identified as Berkley Lee Collins Jr., 74, of Hopewell.
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Collins' longtime neighbor Lewis Browder told NBC12 that shortly before the shooting Collins called him and asked whether Browder would take care of his cat if something happened to him. Browder, who said he had known Collins for approximately 40 years, reported seeing Collins firing into the air before police arrived. Another neighbor said Collins' behavior was highly unusual for him.
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Hopewell police alleged that arriving officers encountered Collins holding two firearms. Police repeatedly ordered him to put the guns down. Browder witnessed part of the confrontation and said an officer positioned near his house repeatedly told Collins to put the guns down.
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According to Hopewell police, Collins did not comply with the officers' commands and subsequently discharged a firearm. Neighbors described hearing an initial gunshot followed by a barrage of police gunfire. Police fired at Collins, striking him.
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Officers provided medical aid following the shooting, but Collins died at the scene. Five Hopewell police officers involved in the incident were subsequently placed on paid administrative leave. The number was significant for the small department, with contemporaneous reporting indicating the five officers represented approximately one-third of Hopewell's patrol personnel.
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The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation assumed responsibility for investigating the police shooting at Hopewell Police Department's request.
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Hopewell Police Department's official release identified Collins by his full name and age and stated that multiple officers returned fire after Collins allegedly discharged his weapon. Contemporary reporting similarly described multiple officers firing, but the department did not publicly identify the individual officers in its initial release.
OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Five Hopewell Police Department officers were placed on administrative leave following Collins' killing. The publicly available sources reviewed for this update do not identify those five officers by name.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.nbc12.com/2023/08/31/74-year-old-man-dies-officer-involved-shooting/
https://www.12onyourside.com/2023/08/31/74-year-old-man-dies-officer-involved-shooting/
https://hopewellva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2330/August-31-2023---Officer-involved-shooting-investigation-initiated-Hopewell-PDF
https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/74-year-old-berkley-lee-collins-jr-dead-hopewell-police-shooting-august-31-2023