On a cold February evening in Richmond, Indiana, a fatal encounter unfolded that left two men dead. Virgus Browning Jr., a 46-year-old white male, was involved in a shooting on the night of February 10, 2016. The incident occurred around 9:15 p.m. in the 1800 block of Industries Road. When Richmond police officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Browning and another man, Charles Atkinson of Neosho, Missouri, with gunshot wounds.
Both men were gravely injured. Atkinson was pronounced dead at the scene, while Browning was rushed to Reid Hospital for medical attention. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Virgus Browning Jr. succumbed to his injuries and passed away on February 11, 2016. He was known to be involved in the logging business and had a passion for motocross racing, art, and football.
The investigation into the double homicide determined that the two men had shot each other. Police indicated that two groups of people had arrived in separate vehicles, with Browning in one and Atkinson in the other, and at some point, an exchange of gunfire occurred between the two men. Investigators interviewed witnesses at the scene to piece together the events that led to the deadly shootout.
In the course of their investigation, police arrested a woman named Lori A. Clark, 40, of West Alexandria, Ohio, who was present at the scene. However, her arrest was for possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony, and she was not charged in connection with the shootings. With the evidence indicating that the two deceased men were the sole shooters, the Richmond Police Department did not seek any further suspects. The case was soon considered closed by authorities. The deaths of Browning and Atkinson marked the first and second homicides in Richmond for 2016.
