NEWS BRIEFS
Police investigate homicide

The Chesterfield County Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred late last month at the Ivy Walk Apartments.

Witnesses indicate that shots were heard coming from the 4900 block of Burnt Oak Drive, and two subjects were seen running from the apartment building. The victim, 25-year-old Esteban León Lopez, was discovered lying in front of his apartment door. He had been shot several times.

Lopez was transported to CJW Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

The two suspects were seen getting into a tan or dirty, white mid-size, four-door sedan. Both suspects are described as black males, approximately 5'10", wearing dark pants and jackets and long t-shirts.

If anyone has information about this incident, please contact the Chesterfield Police Department at 748-1251 or Crime Solvers at 748-0660.

Man arrested for shooting death

Police have arrested a man in connection with an early-morning homicide that happened late last month in the 11700 block of Hull Street Road.

Kira K. Jones was traveling in a vehicle when she was struck by at least one of the bullets fired by the suspect. Jones was transported by Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services to VCU Medical Center where she later died from her wound.

Joseph Swafford, 24, of Sunfield Drive in Midlothian, was later arrested for the shooting. Swafford is charged with murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, malicious wounding and shooting into an occupied vehicle.

Suspects charged in bank robbery

Chesterfield County Police have obtained warrants for the arrests of two individuals for the Dec. 21 robbery of the SunTrust Bank at 12020 Iron Bridge Road.

Paul Cleveland Thompson Jr., 52, and Bernard Dale Coe, 50, of the 22nd block of South Mallory Street in Hampton, were arrested in Henrico County last month for an attempted bank robbery of the Wachovia Bank on Laburnum Avenue. They were later identified as suspects in the SunTrust Bank robbery.

Warrants for robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and carrying a weapon into a banking institution have been obtained for both Thompson and Coe, and sent to the Henrico County Jail where both are currently being held.

Thompson and Coe are also suspects in several other robberies in the Richmond and Tidewater areas.