Richmond crime scene. Photo credit: WWBT NBC 12.
by Jon Baliles
On Wednesday, CBS6 Crime Insider Jon Burkett gave an interview to John Reid on WRVA about the rising and scary number of shootings happening all over the region, most of them in the city.
He noted that as of Wednesday morning there had been 12 shootings in the previous 7 days, and 10 just in the previous 5 days, with two murders.
He talks about how a lot of it is driven by feuds on social media and then gives a scary quote: “Credit the surgeons at VCU — if we didn’t have them, we’d be in really big trouble,” while also noting that their job in the ER is the “equivalent to a combat surgeon.”
He goes into more detail and talks about one woman who was interviewed whose brother had been murdered and she wondered why he was even out on the street – he had 13 serious felonies on his record. Burkett also said he was threatened by someone in a passing car while he was conducting an interview following a shooting. Does it feel like we are turning or have turned things around?
Below are most of the headlines regarding shootings in the region over the last two weeks that show it is not turning around. They are becoming far too common and awful to read about, and hiring violence interruptors isn’t going to solve the problem. Sources tell me with the retirements and 150+ existing vacancies, the lack of any confidence in the Chief by anyone except the Mayor, and the much smaller recruiting classes, it could take the better part of a decade to get back to the low crime rates we had from (roughly) 2006-2019. Anyone that was here in the 1980s and 1990s knows it was not a good time, and the name of our city was synonymous with crime and violence.
Sat., Oct. 7
Man injured in shooting along Hull Street Road
Teen arrested with gun at George Wythe High, charged in Southside Richmond shooting
Mon., Oct. 10
Richmond woman kneels, begs community to ‘stop killing’ after losing two family members to gun violence
“I’m saddened and I’m angry. I’m saddened because it’s another life gone to the streets,” McMullen said. “The love that we normally get from our kids, we’re not going to hear that anymore from the souls that’ve been lost to the streets.”
Wed., Oct. 11
Man fighting for his life following shooting in Richmond’s southside
Suspects Sought in South Laurel Street Shooting
Witnesses reported the male in the t-shirt assaulted a female at the scene followed by the male in the white tank top shooting the victims.
Thur., Oct. 12
Catalytic converter theft victim shot during robbery in Henrico
Fri., Oct. 13
Video shows customer fire gun into fast food drive-thru
Richmond mother says young son tackled little sister to keep bullet from striking her inside home
Man critically hurt in Manchester shooting
Sat., Oct. 14
Football game evacuated after shooting near Armstrong High School
Parents react to shots fired near Richmond football game
Richmond mother shot and killed outside of an elementary school
Deadly shooting in pick-up line outside Richmond school happened 1 hour before dismissal
Chesterfield Police investigating shooting early Saturday morning
Sun., Oct. 15
Two men suffering life-threatening injuries after shooting
Police identify Richmond man killed in early Sunday shooting
Sun., Oct. 16
Shooting near Boys and Girls Club leaves 3 men hurt
Police: Man killed in Shockoe Bottom; 2nd person shot arrives at hospital
Mon., Oct. 17
Two people killed, 10 hurt in eight Richmond shootings: ‘Violence is spiraling out of control’
Crime Insider sources share new details about shooting outside Richmond elementary school
Tue., Oct. 18
Man killed at Henrico apartments
‘Something needs to be done’: Another violent weekend in the city of Richmond
“My kids can’t go outside and play,” said Richmond resident Melanie Vasquez-Garcia. “My kids can’t go outside and enjoy themselves.”
One firearm found this month at George Wythe High School in Richmond
Man hospitalized in shooting on Laburnum Ave, Henrico police investigating
A weekend of tragic violence begs the continued question, where are the violence interrupters?
Wed., Oct. 19
Body of teenager found in Richmond trash can, Crime Insider sources say
Mom prays, advises daughter after school stabbing: ‘Keep your eyes open’
Eight months later, Richmond announces updates on violence interrupter hiring process
Thur., Oct. 20
JV football game between Armstrong and Atlee canceled after recent shootings
Student found with gun at Chesterfield high school
Student found with knife at Thomas Jefferson High School
Jon Baliles is a former Richmond city councilman. This article has been republished with permission from his blog, RVA 5X5.
