Police say I-64 shootout suspect used AK-47 assault rifle

CHESAPEAKE

To understand the power of the weapon that Officer Sean Fleming was confronting, know this: Police believe two rounds went through Fleming's Jeep before piercing his bullet-resistant vest.

Police said Thursday that Christopher White wielded a semi-automatic AK-47 when he burst out of a van and fired on police officers.

Fleming had been on his way home from work Monday afternoon and was still wearing a typical, so-called level-3 vest issued to all Chesapeake officers.

When he responded to a call of shots fired near Interstate 64 and pulled up on the scene, the gunman sprayed Fleming's car.

Top officials with the department said the gunfire from White's rifle was so potent that it most likely would have penetrated the stronger, tactical vests given to SWAT team members and narcotics officers.

Fleming, who sustained four gunshot wounds, survived the attack and was recovering Thursday at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

Investigators on Thursday were still trying to figure out where the AK-47 came from. Chesapeake police Maj. T.D. Branch, who commands the investigative bureau, said officers here haven't seen many of those guns, although the semi-automatic weapon can be legally purchased.

Branch also said that a second gun - a stolen semi-automatic handgun - was found in the white van that officers chased before Monday's shoot out on an interstate highway ramp in Chesapeake.

White was killed, two other suspects were arrested, and the body of abduction victim Tione D. Vincent was discovered in the van.

Investigators speculate that White shot and killed Vincent, Branch said, although they are not yet sure. The two other suspects in the van, Willie Simmons and Dedrion Short, each face six felony counts, including first-degree murder.

Police say White could have unloaded as many as 30 rounds at the green Jeep Wrangler that Fleming was driving. Investigators said they believe some of those bullets may have gone through both the car metal and bulletproof vest, Branch said.

The gunfire also flattened two of the Jeep's tires, shattered its front headlights and left about 12 bullet holes in the vehicle's front windshield.

"He was still seated in the vehicle when he was assaulted," Branch said. "Those type of weapons, depending on what kind of rounds, typically penetrate metal. They're pretty powerful."

Chesapeake police Chief Kelvin Wright said Thursday that his department was not considering buying new vests as a result of the shooting.

Fleming managed to fire at least eight shots from his service weapon before pulling himself out of the vehicle, officials say.

Although a news release said Fleming mortally wounded White, other officers may have fired, too, Branch said. Detectives were still trying to reconstruct the shoot out Thursday.

Police say they are still trying to trace the AK-47.

Officials are thankful that White did not have a fully automatic weapon, which could have sent more bullets toward the officer's Jeep in a hurry.

"In the time it would take me to shoot 20 rounds with a semi-automatic, I could probably shoot 60 rounds with a fully automatic," Branch said.

Mike Saewitz, (757) 222-5207, mike.saewitz@pilotonline.com