Domestic call leads Richmond police to homicide suspect

A police call for a domestic matter in North Richmond ended with a man being charged with shooting at officers and taking part in the slaying of a man almost two years ago near Byrd Park.

Derrell R. Brown, 23, was ordered held without bond pending a July 16 hearing after his arrest early yesterday on several charges, including attempted capital murder of a police officer and conspiracy to commit murder.

No police were injured in the events leading to the arrest of Brown, who was described by authorities as the lone suspect in the shooting death of Joseph Wynn, 74, at a house in the 2000 block of Maplewood Avenue on Aug. 24, 2007.

The late-afternoon shooting occurred on the front porch of Wynn's house, which police described as a "nip joint" -- a place where alcohol is sold illegally.

"He was on our radar screen," Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Learned Barry said of Brown, "but we didn't have enough to arrest him."

That changed early yesterday after police arrested Brown, ending a chain of events that began shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday, when officers were sent to a domestic-related call at an apartment in the 4200 block of Old Brook Road.

Police, who had warrants charging Brown with felony larceny, brandishing a firearm and property damage, believed he was living at the apartment. They waited to see whether he came out, and eventually, two people left the building and drove off, so two officers followed in an unmarked vehicle.

Police said shots were fired at the officers' vehicle while they were in the 4200 block of Chamberlayne Avenue, which runs parallel to Old Brook, one block to the west. The shots, according to police, did not come from the vehicle being followed by police.

The officers were not injured and did not discharge their weapons, police said.

Police pulled over the vehicle, only to find that Brown was not inside, so they returned to the apartment and determined he was there. They began negotiations, and Brown surrendered early in the morning without incident.

Barry said that after the arrest police found "missing pieces of evidence necessary to solve" the Wynn slaying. He declined to elaborate.

Brown also faces a charge of shooting into an occupied vehicle for Wednesday night's shooting.

Authorities said an upcoming grand jury likely will be asked to upgrade the conspiracy charge, which was filed in relation to Wynn's slaying, to a charge of murder.

Contact Joe Macenka at (804) 649-6804 or .