Family upset after Richmond officer awarded in deadly shooting
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A Richmond family says they are outraged after the police officer who shot and killed their loved one was given a Valor Award for his actions that night. The family of 20-year-old Kenneth Sharp spoke exclusively to 8News eight months after his killing, saying they felt heartbroken and blindsided by the award. Now, they are calling for more accountability within the department. "We don't find anything heroic in the death of my nephew," said Tracey Hardney Scott, Sharp's aunt. "We were completely blindsided." Sharp, a 20-year-old Richmond resident, was fatally shot by police after officers responded to reports of an armed individual at the 1900 block of Cedar Street on March 31, 2024. Body camera footage revealed two officers, Todd Hall and an unidentified officer, discovered Sharp asleep in his vehicle around 5 a.m. The Richmond Police Department’s said the officers knocked on the windrow and tried to engage Sharp, who then exited his car holding a large firearm. Moments later, Officer Hall fired four shots, killing Sharp on the scene. No charges were filed in the case and Officer Hall was found not guilty of any wrongdoing. And, nine months later, Officer Hall was awarded a Valor award from "ValorRVA" for his actions that night. According to their website, "These Awards honor local Law Enforcement, Firefighter, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel who have performed exceptional acts of courage, putting themselves at risk and personal injury." However, Sharp's family argued that the actions that night were not 'heroic.' "We feel there were some critical mistakes made by the officers in identifying themselves," Scott said. "Basically he's being awarded for startling a sleeping man out of his sleep." "I can understand if we were dealing with a hostage situation or a mass shooting and there was a threat to the community," She added. "I emphasize Kenny was a sleeping man in a car — that did not equate to a death sentence." 8News reached out to Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards to understand the Valor award process. In a statement, Edwards said "The Valor Awards is an event produced by an independent entity, Valor RVA, Inc, which, per their criteria, recognized the RPD officer for actions during the officer-involved shooting on March 31, 2024." 8News asked if Edwards signed off on Hall's nomination. We've yet to hear back. In the meantime, Sharp's family is calling for more accountability within the department. "It's a new year and it's time to put new measures in place," Scott said.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A Richmond family says they are outraged after the police officer who shot and killed their loved one was given a Valor Award for his actions that night.
The family of 20-year-old Kenneth Sharp spoke exclusively to 8News eight months after his killing, saying they felt heartbroken and blindsided by the award. Now, they are calling for more accountability within the department.
"We don't find anything heroic in the death of my nephew," said Tracey Hardney Scott, Sharp's aunt. "We were completely blindsided."
Sharp, a 20-year-old Richmond resident, was fatally shot by police after officers responded to reports of an armed individual at the 1900 block of Cedar Street on March 31, 2024.
Body camera footage revealed two officers, Todd Hall and an unidentified officer, discovered Sharp asleep in his vehicle around 5 a.m. The Richmond Police Department’s said the officers knocked on the windrow and tried to engage Sharp, who then exited his car holding a large firearm.
Moments later, Officer Hall fired four shots, killing Sharp on the scene. No charges were filed in the case and Officer Hall was found not guilty of any wrongdoing.
And, nine months later, Officer Hall was awarded a Valor award from "ValorRVA" for his actions that night. According to their website, "These Awards honor local Law Enforcement, Firefighter, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel who have performed exceptional acts of courage, putting themselves at risk and personal injury."
However, Sharp's family argued that the actions that night were not 'heroic.'
"We feel there were some critical mistakes made by the officers in identifying themselves," Scott said. "Basically he's being awarded for startling a sleeping man out of his sleep."
"I can understand if we were dealing with a hostage situation or a mass shooting and there was a threat to the community," She added. "I emphasize Kenny was a sleeping man in a car — that did not equate to a death sentence."
8News reached out to Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards to understand the Valor award process. In a statement, Edwards said "The Valor Awards is an event produced by an independent entity, Valor RVA, Inc, which, per their criteria, recognized the RPD officer for actions during the officer-involved shooting on March 31, 2024."
8News asked if Edwards signed off on Hall's nomination. We've yet to hear back.
In the meantime, Sharp's family is calling for more accountability within the department.
"It's a new year and it's time to put new measures in place," Scott said.
