HENRICO, VA (WWBT) -
The family of a fatal shooting victim
in Henrico is speaking out on their loved one's death — and the violent loss of
their dog — on the same day.
As Henrico Police pieced together the
homicide Wednesday morning, a sickening feeling rattled Latoya Ellerbe, after
she couldn't reach her brother.
"I kept on calling his cell phone
all night, all morning. I couldn't sleep, and I kept on getting strange
feelings," said Latoya Ellerbe.
Her intuition was tragically correct.
Latoya said her brother, Ricky Ellerbe, 32, was shot and killed at close range.
His body was discovered face-down near Carroll and 20th Streets. Neighbors say
the route where he was found is used frequently by people walking to the store
nearby.
Latoya said the reality was piercing as
police knocked on her family's door.
"We just started crying before
they (police) said, 'Ricky has been shot, and he's dead.' We were just going
off," described Latoya of hearing the devastating news.
Stricken with grief, Latoya ran outside
her home. She said one of the officers followed, but the family's pit bull,
Tiger, charged at him.
"The dog never jumped on him, but
he (the police officer) just took out his gun and shot him," said Latoya.