RICHMOND, Va. — Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards is looking for motion from the neighborhood within the wake of a surge in gun violence that has left 5 folks useless over the previous 9 days, together with 4 youngsters.
“It’s been a really robust week for us,” Chief Edwards mentioned. “Lots of people shot. A number of harmless lives that had been misplaced. We simply want folks to place these weapons down.”
The newest sufferer was 15-year-old Dora Hill, who police say was shot and killed by one other teenager within the Jackson Ward neighborhood Wednesday night.
“I’ve 589 law enforcement officials, we’re in a metropolis of 230,000 folks. We want all people taking care of our youngsters,” Chief Edwards mentioned. “We want the mother and father, we want academics, we want family members trying by way of their cell telephones and checking their bedrooms for weapons.”
He additionally urged neighborhood members to de-escalate potential conflicts earlier than they escalate to gun violence.
Investigators imagine the current shootings should not linked. They mentioned they’ve completely different motives and completely different firearms concerned. The Richmond Police Division is revisiting its Operation Secure Summer season initiative, which mixes native, state, and federal assets to fight gun violence and help these affected.
Edwards mentioned he had initially hoped to not resume it early this yr.
“It’s an enormous ask to herald all these different federal companies and state companions that have already got their plans in place. But when we discover a want for it, we’ll undoubtedly transfer ahead,” Edwards mentioned.
Addressing neighborhood considerations, Chief Edwards affirmed that oldsters can be held accountable if their firearms are misused by youngsters. He harassed the significance of securing firearms within the dwelling.
“When you have a gun that you do not have a protected for, name us. We’ll come and ship it,” he urged.
As spring break approaches its finish, Edwards hopes the neighborhood may help forestall any additional shootings earlier than youngsters return to high school.
“We went 25 days into this yr with no murder. It could occur once more. We simply want all of us to take part on this,” he mentioned.
Police are asking anybody with details about the current shootings to contact them straight or anonymously by way of Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.
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