Richmond Police Investigate 3rd Homicide This Week After Thursday Shooting
RICHMOND (CBS SF) – Police in Richmond are investigating a fatal shooting that left a man dead Thursday morning, according to the mayor's chief of staff.
The shooting was reported around 9:40 a.m. at South 15th Street and Maine Avenue, according to Alex Knox, who spoke on behalf of Mayor Tom Butt.
A homicide victim was found at the scene, and the Contra Costa County coroner's office responded to the scene.
"Our officers arrived and found the victim, a male in his 30's, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds," said Richmond Police Lt. Felix Tan.
Police have not releasing the victim's name or a possible motive for the shooting.
The case remains under investigation.
The killing was the third in Richmond this week after the city had none since last November. Last Monday night, a person was killed in a shooting near Crescent Park.
"We're still trying to figure out if they are gang related, although we do have a hint that they may touch the gang realm," said Tan.
The first homicide happened last Saturday afternoon when a 20-year-old Antioch man died in a shooting, according to police.
There were also two additional non-fatal shootings that occurred over the weekend, according to a statement Butt issued Wednesday.
The fact that the crimes are shocking is a sign of progress for the town. 15 years ago, three Richmond homicides in the space of a week wouldn't have been considered unusual.
There were so many murders that Richmond was often listed as the most deadly place, per capita, in the country. But things have changed. Police credit the decrease in violence, in part, with their efforts to change their relationship with the community.
By slowly earning the trust of people in the neighborhoods, their job has gotten easier.
"And we have full engagement with the community," said Tan. "We've actually seen a lot of good successes from the community talking, providing us information on these cases and that's how we've been able to solve a lot of these crimes."
City officials are working with Operation Ceasefire to promote public safety and discourage further gun violence.
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