A City of Richmond Department of Public Works employee was wounded early Tuesday morning while performing work duties, city officials confirmed.

At about 1:36 a.m., Richmond Police responded to the 00 block of N. 18th St. after reports of a shooting. Officers found an adult male Public Works employee who had suffered a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.

Detectives from the Major Crimes Division determined a confrontation involving several people took place in front of a nearby business. During the incident, a suspect or suspects fired shots at a departing vehicle. The injured worker was standing near a Department of Public Works refuse collection truck as the vehicle was leaving when he was struck by gunfire.

“I was so saddened to hear about a City of Richmond Department of Public Works employee who was wounded while doing his job. Guns are taking a serious toll on people, and it’s not okay,” said Mayor Danny Avula.

“This is heartbreaking and is exactly why I am elevating this issue through my newly established Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Every Richmonder deserves to feel safe, whether you’re out with friends or out collecting trash at 1:30 in the morning,” Avula added.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Major Crimes Detective W. Hartley at (804) 646-4314 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.