Richmond firefighter killed in Thanksgiving night shooting

HOPEWELL, Va. (WTVR) -- Police are in the early stages of a homicide investigation after a veteran Richmond firefighter was killed in a shooting Thanksgiving night in Hopewell.

Lt. Michael Langford with Hopewell Police said officers were called to the 1000 block of Sunnyside Avenue for a call for "shots fired and an individual who had been shot" just before 11:40 p.m.

The victim was taken to John Randolph Medical Center, but was transferred to VCU Medical Center where she was pronounced dead, Langford said.

Police said a silver or gold-colored SUV was spotted leaving the shooting scene at "a high rate of speed."

A witness told CBS 6 Senior Reporter Wayne Covil that a child was with the victim when she was shot.

Police identified the victim as 33-year-old Ashley Berry of Chesterfield. Richmond Fire Department spokesperson Lt. Christopher Armstrong confirmed Berry was a member of the department who recently joined the Fire Marshals Office.

Police urged anyone who witnessed the shooting or was traveling in the area to call Lead Detective Mark Polumbo of the Hopewell Criminal Investigations Unit at 804-541-2284 or respond anonymously to Hopewell Prince George Crimesolvers hotline at 804-541-2202 or using the P3tips mobile app.