On a Sunday evening in Danville, Virginia, police were called to a residence on Elizabeth Street where they made a grim discovery. Inside, they found 80-year-old Melvin Eugene Powell, a male resident of the city, who had died from violent injuries. The scene indicated a struggle had occurred, and it was clear that Powell had been the victim of a homicide.
The initial investigation pointed to a suspect who had already fled the area.
The suspect was quickly identified as 22-year-old Richard Lance London. Authorities determined that after killing Powell, London had stolen a vehicle from the home and escaped. An alert was issued for London, who was also wanted on an outstanding probation violation. He was entered into the National Crime Information Center database as an armed and dangerous homicide suspect. The search for London extended beyond state lines as law enforcement agencies worked to track his movements.
The manhunt for Richard Lance London came to a dramatic and violent end in Lake City, South Carolina. Early one morning, local police attempted to pull over the stolen vehicle London was driving. After a brief chase, London stopped the car, got out, and opened fire on the officers. The police returned fire, and in the exchange, London was shot. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died from his injuries. With London's death, authorities stated that they were not seeking any other suspects in connection with the murder of Melvin Powell.
