RICHMOND, Va. — The family of 20-year-old Kenneth Sharp is expressing outrage after a Richmond police officer was awarded a Valor Award for his involvement in the fatal shooting of their loved one. The officer, identified as Todd Hall, was recognized by ValorRVA for what the group described as an act of exceptional courage during the March 31, 2024 incident that led to Sharp’s death.
The award, given nine months after the shooting, has sparked outrage from Sharp’s family, who say they feel blindsided and heartbroken by the recognition. “We don’t find anything heroic in the death of my nephew,” said Tracey Hardney Scott, Sharp’s aunt. “We were completely blindsided.”
The tragic events unfolded in the early morning hours of March 31 when officers responded to reports of an armed individual in the 1900 block of Cedar Street. Body camera footage from the scene showed Officers Hall and another unidentified officer finding Sharp asleep in his vehicle. When they knocked on the window and attempted to engage him, Sharp reportedly exited the vehicle holding a large firearm. Moments later, Officer Hall fired four shots, killing Sharp at the scene.
The Richmond Police Department conducted an internal investigation, and no charges were filed against Officer Hall. The department concluded that the officer’s actions were justified, and he was cleared of any wrongdoing. However, the awarding of the Valor Award to Officer Hall has intensified the family’s frustration, who feel the recognition sends the wrong message about accountability in law enforcement.
“We feel there were some critical mistakes made by the officers in identifying themselves,” Scott explained. “Basically, he’s being awarded for startling a sleeping man out of his sleep.”
The family emphasized that they do not believe Sharp, who they describe as being caught off-guard and confused, posed a clear and present danger that would justify a fatal response. “I can understand if we were dealing with a hostage situation or a mass shooting and there was a threat to the community,” Scott added. “But Kenny was a sleeping man in a car—that did not equate to a death sentence.”
The Valor Award, presented by the independent group ValorRVA, honors local law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel for acts of bravery that involve putting themselves at significant risk. According to the ValorRVA website, the awards are given for “exceptional acts of courage” during emergencies. Despite the recognition, Sharp’s family argues that this classification of the incident as a heroic act is inappropriate.
In response to questions from the media, Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards addressed the controversy. “The Valor Awards is an event produced by an independent entity, ValorRVA, Inc, which, per their criteria, recognized the RPD officer for actions during the officer-involved shooting on March 31, 2024,” Edwards said in a statement.
The family’s calls for greater accountability within the police department have grown louder in the wake of the award. They argue that such recognition for Officer Hall sends a troubling message about the lack of proper investigation and oversight in cases of police use of force. “We want accountability. We want to see change,” Scott said.
As the family continues to seek justice for Sharp’s death, they remain adamant that the actions taken by the officers that night were far from heroic and that no award should be given for a tragic incident that ended with the loss of a young life.
