Police cars and crime-scene tape surrounded the Lynchburg Public Library on Memorial Avenue late Monday afternoon after a shooting left one man injured.
The 37-year-old victim was shot outside the main entrance to the library at about 4:15 p.m. and went inside to get help, said Capt. Brandon Zuidema. Investigators photographed splatters of blood at the entryway as they collected evidence.
The library was evacuated after police determined that there was some evidence inside the building, Zuidema said.
“To our knowledge there was never any danger to anyone inside the library,” he said.
Lynn Dodge, director of the Lynchburg Public Library, said there were some 20 staffers and about 30 to 40 patrons in the building at the time of the shooting.
“The front steps and inside became a crime scene,” Dodge said. “This is the last thing anyone wants in their community, much less in front of a public building.”
Dodge said nothing like this has happened at the public library before.
“I am so thankful that no one else was hurt,” she said.
Police had not released the victim’s identity Monday evening; he was transported to Lynchburg General Hospital. Zuidema said the man was undergoing surgery as of 8 p.m.
Witnesses saw a young black man wearing bright red pants and a black hoodie run from the library along with four other young black men, Zuidema said.
“We do not have any information to confirm or deny (gang activity) at this point,” Zuidema said.
There is nothing to indicate any sort of altercation prior to the shooting, he said.
Searches of the surrounding neighborhoods did not turn up a suspect.
“We still do not have an idea of who the shooter is at this time,” Zuidema said.
The library closed an hour early on Monday; it will reopen as usual today. Any late fees for patrons being unable to return their books Monday will be waived, Dodge said.
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