Bodycam: Va. Police take down man with battle ax in tense hostage situation

Newly released body camera footage captured Virginia police rescuing a woman who was being held hostage during a tense standoff at a home last month.

The incident happened just before 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 15, when Richmond police responded to a report of a man threatening a person with a knife, WRIC-TV reports. When officers arrived on scene, they heard a scream from the home and went inside.

In the 9-1-1 call to police, a caller said the suspect’s work supervisor called to say the man — identified as Kyle Harris — was suffering from a mental health crisis and was threatening a person with a knife. A neighbor told police that Harris had turned off the power to the home he was in, and a family member allowed officers into the home.

At the entrance to the apartment, police began talking to Harris, who refused to come to the front door and told officers he would kill someone if they entered.

Police determined that Harris was holding a woman hostage and would not let her come to the door. During the standoff, Harris revealed the woman was his wife.

“I’m talking to her right now, she thinks this is a game, and I’m not playing games tonight,” Harris is seen saying in the video.

Finally, officers begin entering an apartment hallway just before 8 p.m. in an attempt to reach Harris and the hostage. Police confronted Harris and he was shot.

Harris was rushed to hospital, where he died. The woman was removed from the home by officers and an ax was found at the scene.