Richmond Man Throws Replica Gun At Officers In Courthouse Area: Police

ARLINGTON, VA — A Richmond man was charged with robbery and assault on police in connection with an incident Friday afternoon at a business in the Courthouse area, according to the Arlington County Police Department.

Ricardo Gil, 47, is accused of entering a business in the 2000 block of Clarendon Blvd. around 3:20 p.m. on Friday and concealing merchandise before attempting to leave the store without paying.

When a store employee confronted Gil, he lifted his shirt, exposing what appeared to be a firearm before fleeing the scene on foot, police said.

After arriving at the scene, officers canvassed the area and found Gil, who disregarded their commands and continued to walk away, police said. He then lifted his shirt and threw the firearm in the direction of the police officers, according to police.

The officers then took the suspect into custody and recovered the firearm, which was determined to be a replica, police said.

In a separate incident over the weekend, a man who was acting disorderly approached an employee inside a business in Clarendon early Sunday morning and lifted his shirt to display a firearm, according to police.

After the incident, which occurred around 1:50 a.m. on Sunday, the man fled the scene in the 3100 block of Clarendon Blvd. on foot. The suspect is described as a white male, about 20 to 30 years old, with black hair, wearing all gray clothing, police said.

Also, in the early hours of Sunday morning, police were dispatched to the Glencarlyn neighborhood for a report of shots fired. When officers arrived in the 300 block of S. Harrison Street around 1:45 a.m. on Sunday, they recovered evidence confirming several shots had been fired.

Witnesses reported seeing several unknown people running from the area after the shots were fired. Police said no one was injured, and no property damage was located. Residents also did not get a description of the suspects, police said.

Anyone with information about the Clarendon and Glencarlyn incidents can contact the Police Department's Tip Line at 703-228-4180 or ACPDTipline@arlingtonva.us, or anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).