The injuries of a man found dead after a roadblock and shootout with police in Virginia were likely the result of police shooting, authorities said Wednesday.
Officers were called to a Virginia Beach home Monday night for a domestic incident involving a man with a gun threatening to harm himself and others, city police said in a news release. Officers made sure a woman was outside and encountered a man with a shotgun, who pointed it at himself as he walked in and out of the house.
Police negotiated with the man, but just after midnight he came out and over the next hour turned different firearms on himself, police said. The police deployed less lethal munitions, which did not have the desired effect. The man entered and fired at the police, who returned fire.
The man, identified as Craig Byl, 48, of Virginia Beach, was found inside and pronounced dead, police said. Investigation indicates Byl's injuries were the result of police shooting, but confirmation depends on the medical examiner to determine his cause of death, police said.
No officers were injured and those involved were placed on standard administrative leave. The homicide unit and the Commonwealth Prosecutor's Office will investigate and an administrative review will determine compliance with the policy and training.
