HENRICO COUNTY, Va. — What began as a verbal dispute outside a 7-Eleven gas station on Thursday night quickly turned violent, disrupting the usual quiet of a Henrico County neighborhood. The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. on the 6300 block of Horsepen Road, where an altercation led to gunfire, leaving one man wounded and prompting a swift response from local law enforcement.
According to officials with the Henrico Police Department and sources close to the investigation, the victim has been identified as 32-year-old Kendall Hilliard. He suffered a gunshot wound to the leg. Emergency responders arrived on the scene minutes after reports of gunfire and quickly administered aid. Hilliard was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for a non-life-threatening injury.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as the confrontation escalated. “I heard shouting, and then there were a few loud pops. At first, I thought it might have been fireworks, but then people started running and someone yelled that someone had been shot,” said a resident who lives in an apartment complex adjacent to the gas station.
Authorities have not yet released details on what led to the altercation or whether the individuals involved were acquainted. Police spent several hours canvassing the area, reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses, and interviewing potential witnesses. No arrests have been made as of Friday morning, but officials confirmed that the investigation remains active.
The 7-Eleven, a popular late-night stop for locals, was temporarily closed as officers cordoned off the area with police tape. Forensic units were seen collecting evidence at the scene, including bullet casings and potential items of interest that may help reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the shooting.
This stretch of Horsepen Road is typically known for its suburban calm, with families, students, and longtime residents calling the area home. Incidents of gun violence are relatively rare, making Thursday night’s events particularly jarring for members of the community.
“We want to reassure the public that this appears to be an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the community,” said a spokesperson for the Henrico Police Department. “Our officers are working diligently to identify and locate those responsible.”
As of now, police are urging anyone who may have witnessed the altercation or has information about the suspect(s) to come forward. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers or directly to Henrico Police.
For residents like Maria Jennings, who frequently visits the 7-Eleven on her way home from work, the shooting is a sobering reminder of how quickly everyday spaces can become scenes of violence. “It’s unsettling. You never expect something like this to happen somewhere so familiar,” she said.
Henrico Police have assured the public that increased patrols and visibility in the area will continue over the coming days as the investigation proceeds.
More details are expected as the investigation unfolds and authorities piece together the events of that night.