Officials seek indictment against officer in shooting of black teen

Portsmouth, Va. -- The Commonwealth's Attorney in Virginia announced Thursday an indictmet will be sought against a police officer accused of fatally shooting an 18-year-old black man in April, CBS affiliate WTKR reported.

William Chapman was shot and killed April 22 in a Walmart parking lot in Portsmouth. Several sources identified the officer to WTKR as Officer Stephen Rankin of the Portsmouth Police Department, although his name has not been officially released.

The officer was responding to reports of a shoplifter at the store, the station reported shortly after the shooting occurred. State police have not said what Chapman was accused of stealing from Walmart or if he had a weapon.

A witness describing what happened between Chapman and the officer told WTKR the officer and Chapman had a fight. The witness said the officer pulled out his Taser, but Chapman hit it out of his hand, then pulled out his gun and said something. Then the witness says Chapman lunged at him and the officer shot and killed him.

Chapman's mother, Candy Chapman, told WTKR that she was the one who reached out to police when she heard there was a shooting involving an 18-year-old.

"I just heard it was a child that was 18, so when I called 911, they asked my son's name and I said William Chapman," she recalls.

WTKR reported Chapman was shot in the face and the chest, according to the medical examiner's office.

No other details about the shooting have been released.