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Naim Crews Jr. charged with murder after Henrico man shot and killed outside Richmond jail, police say
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Naim Crews Jr. charged with murder after Henrico man shot and killed outside Richmond jail, police say

RICHMOND, Va. — A 28-year-old suspect has been charged with first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony after a man was killed outside the Richmond Justice Center Monday afternoon.

Richmond police said Friday that Naim Crews Jr. was indicted Wednesday by a grand jury.

A detective was on his way to the Richmond Justice Center when he heard a gunshot nearby around 12:04 a.m., according to Richmond police.

That detective found Timothy Ward, 34, of Henrico County, in the parking lot near the road, unresponsive and suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Ward was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ward, a maintenance man at a car wash in Richmond, was killed by a man trying to steal a truck, Crime Insider Sources told Jon Burkett.

The 34-year-old man was working outside when he saw a man trying to take off in the truck, sources told Burkett. Ward gave chase in an attempt to stop the thief and ended up crossing Fairfield Way into the parking lot of the Richmond Justice Center, where he was shot and killed, those sources said.

Co-worker Shirley Harris said she and others who work at the laundry will miss Ward, 34, and his “can-do” attitude.

“He was friends with everybody, a nice guy who worked in the yard,” Harris said. “That’s his stuff right there.”

WATCH: Man killed outside jail was trying to stop crime in Richmond, Crime Insider sources tell Jon Burkett

Man killed outside jail was trying to stop crime in Richmond, sources told Crime Insider’s Jon Burkett

Crews was taken into custody in the Fairmount neighborhood Monday afternoon when police learned of his possible involvement in another shooting in Richmond the day before Ward’s death.

“On Sunday at approximately 11:38 a.m., an employee of a convenience store in the 1400 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike reported that an adult male entered the store, demanded money and began shooting. The employee, an adult male, opened fire and was struck and injured,” a Richmond police spokesman said. “The suspect was not injured and left the area. Officers arrived and the victim was transported to a local hospital with injuries considered life-threatening. Following the investigation, Crews Jr. was charged with attempted murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony for the Mechanicsville Turnpike shooting.”

Police have not yet discussed a motive or connection between Ward and Crews.

Anyone with information about the incidents was asked to call Major Crimes Detective K. Hyde at 804-646-3613 or call Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000. The P3 Tips Crime Stoppers smartphone app can also be used. All methods of reporting to Crime Stoppers are anonymous.

This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom.

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