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Shooting at 21st and Clay
12/15/2005 8:30 PM by John M
nbc12 is reporting a nonfatal shooting at 21st and Clay Streets today. A contractor was shot in the leg while attempting to stop someone from stealing his tools.
Contractors working to breathe new life into Church Hill find their own lives at risk as one of them is shot in the leg during a confrontation with a would-be thief. The man was shot near Jefferson Park at the corner of 21st and Clay streets 10 AM Thursday morning.
The article link has video and a picture.
Might this put a crimp in the current renovation zeal? Can tax credits trump gunshot wounds? I am thinking a better set of crime control policies might be more efficacious than $200 a month in tax savings. Unless your dream is to be buried in the backyard of your impeccably restored victorian. So, where are the pressure points in this area for more effective law enforcement activity. I am new here, but we do not seem to have a friend in council on this issue. Any insights?
Bob, if you’ll read the recent ‘Style Weekly’ article about abysmal police morale, its causes, and the cavalier and somewhat insulting attitude toward the issue that is evinced by the latest police chief’s response, one thing we can do is call for some relief for the cops…as their problems become our own. Then perhaps you might review the stats in the CHPN on 1,000,000 bottle bags which point out where too much of our small police presence goes… Couple all this with your comment about council representation in regard to these safety and quality of life issues. Until we have adequate and responsive representation, I’m not quite sure how to tackle the problems. I have called and written to our council-person and have never had any response of any kind about any issue; and have been stood up with no notice ahead of time or apology after for two standing appointments with our council-person’s liason. This history says to me ‘no representation.’ So I’d suggest we work to change our council person. I’d also suggest attending public safety meetings. They’re really interesting and in a much smaller venue than city council meetings…and so, easier to make oneself heard. What do you think? What does ANYBODY out there think?
I wonder how much the police can really do. For the kind of crime that plagues our area, the best that we can really ask of the police is to catch the perpetrators after-the-fact. Short of placing an officer on every corner, I don’t know how they could prevent this kind of ridiculous opportunity crime from occurring.
Thank you ann for an insightful post, re: bottle bags.
As to this thread, the solutions to our problems here in union hill lie in several realms, one of which is reducing police response to drunk and disorderly at 2300 Veneable thus allowing them to respond/patrol other conflict areas. ABC license revocation may be a real solution at 2300.
I surmise random crime (ie: robbery @ 2018 Princess Anne, Shooting at 21st)will continue despite our best efforts, but remembering crime is promulgated by opportunity will help all of us in somewhat preventing these crimes.
I offer thanks for your attempts at contacting McQuinn, continue your efforts, please.
the info below was overheard, so it is completely unreliable and not so insightful, but slightly “comforting” in a gossipy sort of way:
the contractor who was shot in the leg supposedly knew the shooters/thieves. he was said to have yelled the name of one of the thieves as they removed his tools from his truck, which leads this gullible citizen (i.e., me) to believe that this robbery/shooting was premeditated and not random. this doesn’t change the fact that a shooting happened yet again in our neighborhood.
We all have the responsibility to deter crime. There are some things that we, as citizens, can do to make it harder to be a target. Hide or lock valuables in your car. Lock your home. Be aware of your surroundings. Call the police for anything out of the ordinary. I know they are busy but all of this information gets caputred and can be used by the sector lieutenants to make a plan that can address these issues. Our sector lieutenant is Michael Snawder. Please call him and let him know what your concrens are and he will address them. The phone number to 1st Precinct is 646-3602.
The Church Hill area is split into two sectors. Roughly south of Venable is indeed sector 111, north of there is sector 113. More info and links.
The police report an arrest in the shooting at 21st and Clay.
From: Kirsten Nelson
Richmond Police Department
Public Affairs Unit
804-646-0607
Email Advisory 12-19-05
Richmond Police Department
Arrest in shooting on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005
At 10:08 a.m., Dec. 15, police responded to a call for a shooting in the 2100 block of W. Clay Street. Upon arrival they discovered a black male with gunshot wounds to the hand and leg. The victim was transported to VCU Medical Center and treated for injuries that were not life threatening.
The victim says he and other workers were at a construction site when they saw two black males attempt to steal tools from their truck. The workers exchanged words with the two black males. The victim says it was at that point that one of the black males turned and shot at him.
Shortly after this incident two black males matching the description of the suspects were spotted and questioned. One of the two males admitted to being involved in the shooting. A gun, ammunition, and crack cocaine were confiscated. It was determined the second individual being questioned was not involved.
The suspect in custody was a juvenile on the day of the incident. His name is not being released.
Police have strong leads on a second suspect. That name is not being released.
I am so sick of crime now. What are some practical things we can. When do these meetings happen. Time date and place? Is there someone who will run for city council that can help us? Also, as a resident of clay street i have noticed that racial tensions are escallating. Lets start to do something sooner than later.
James, what do you suggest we do? I would really like your input. John and others are correct in that no one determined to do something bad is likely to be deterred…but if our patrol cops were actually able to patrol more, their unpredictable but frequent presence will effective in stopping lots of bad stuff.
Crime is a systemic problem that calls for a systemic solution. Holding our council person responsible not for crime, but for what is being done about it above and beyond hiring a new Chief would be a good start. She is not even on the Public Safety Committee despite representing a seriously crime ridden district. With all due respect to her personally, she does not seem to have many ideas or much political juice compared to her collegues on Council. And after watching that lot on TV last night, if you would excuse the catty metaphor, she is not exactly swimming in a very deep pond.
And please stop saying that crime is an unstoppable phenomena. 6-7 years ago Boston completely eliminated juvenile murders for a time (through increased community and religious leader involvement). And I do not need to write about New York’s historic crime drop (active policing, focused political leadership and solid economic growth). It can be done. Whether this city has the political leaders willing to see beyond the oft-cited limitations (excuses) of poverty and lack of resources remains to be seen. Reducing crime would increase economic and community development and increase the available resources available for more crime control measures and more poverty reduction programming. It should be this city’s (and this Mayor’s) number one priority.
So, let’s continue to look out for one another, stay involved civicly, call the police when we see something, and ask tough questions of our elected leaders. Saying there is nothing we can do has to embolden those who seek to rob, rape or kill.
The most recent schedule information I can find about the Public Safety Committee meeting is: first Tuesday of each month – 4 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall. AGAIN: what is suggested as a way to ‘do something’ and HOW do we hold a council person responsible when she won’t communicate with her constituency?
Is there a north of broad citizen crime watch??? If not lets start one. There are little things that WE can do do help limit crime. It amazes me how few people do not turn on lights at night, both inside and outside their homes. I would also be interested in knowing where the criminals are living. The citizens north of Broad need to have an ongoing relationship with the police and our councilperson.
I recently bought a house north of Broad St. and I am a police officer in 1st Precinct. I think all of you are right so let’s get on this. Let’s take back our community. I moved in because I believe this area is on the verge of greatness and wanted to be ahead of the curve. Let’s get it together.
Isn’t there a CHA meeting tonight?
yes, according to their schedule. ( every 3rd Tuesday @ 7:00pm, September-May)
There is no meeting in December. The first weekend with the candlelight walk and gala is the meeting.
Is the CHA interested in getting things done, or are they just a social group? I seriosly dont know.
Its a good thing i know how to spell “seriously”.
James — I’ve seen and heard good things from the CHA. I’ve heard of an automated phone-calling alert system for crime in that area. I know that they have had a large and organized response to the possibility of a new stadium in Shockoe Bottom.
That said, the civic league of record for area of the shooting is North of Broad Concerned Citizens. Is there an active civic league for Union Hill? If so, will somebody let me know when/where y’all meet?
There is – also north of Broad – the Union Hill Civic Association. UHCA gets jump-started from time to time but won’t stay running. BILL, PLEASE PUT COMMENT(S) HERE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
When is the next Union Hill Association Meeting? I presume not over the holidays? Are they actually meeting these days at all? By all the for sale signs coming down, so many new people are moving into Union Hill, it might actually be another good time to get things jump started again.
As soon as a meeting is scheduled after the upcoming holidays the time and place will be posted here.
With the Mayor’s recent decision to do way with the city’s formalized relationship with community and civic groups (i.e. neighborhood teams) it is now critically important to revitalize the informal aspects of community political and civic engagement. The city is hardly going to do it for us. Funny, the Mayor’s Temple lecture last month at VCU (and now televised on the community channel) titled “Civic Engagement” never got around to mentioning the topic let alone exploring avenues for such outcomes in Richmond. The Mayor’s currently suspended spokesman was also quoted as saying that the stong mayor system of government somehow renders the notion of civic engagement unnecessary. I have lived in strong mayor cities and I never heard such a preposterous notion uttered. So, in order to transcend the self centered politics du jour, we need to rejuvinate the civic enterprise here. I should ask if the civic association mentioned in previous posts still has its officers and whether its goverance apparatus is still intact. Moreover, what are the geographic boundaries of this organization? I attended a civic meeting a few months back on the 1200 block of 21st. That community seems a bit far north to include the Jefferson Park area.
I attended a civic meeting a few months back on the 1200 block of 21st.
You must’ve come to a New Visions meeting. I’m not sure of the official boundaries, but New Visions effectively serves the area bound by Fairmount, 20th, Venable, and 25th. This is basically the southern 80% of the Fairmount area. There are members from further south, all the way to Jefferson Ave. Anyone is welcome!
New Visions is a good examples of a working civic league that is not CHA. The area just has a different set of issues. It is also a good example of how much of an impact 2 or 3 concerned individuals can make. There are members that regularly attend all the various meetings at EDI and city hall. They voice the league’s concerns and report back to the members. Also, guest speakers are common, including fairly recently Lt. Hamlet Hood of the 1st Precinct. NV is a good mix of long-time residents and new residents.
I’m not familiar with the ‘North of Broad Concerned Citizens.’ John, can you fill us in on this group? The ‘Union Hill Civic Association’, which goes at least from Jefferson north to Venable or Carrington, does have officers intact. Over the last 2 years, though, it’s been really difficult to get anybody to attend a UHCA meeting. I was in touch recently with one member who says we’ll try again soon. As to the neighborhood teams, I spoke last month to Denise Wise of East Team and she said that the consensus among the teams, following Wilder’s pronouncement, was that they were going to continue doing their business as usual and take the issue to city coucil. But for me, the bottom line is ‘nobody but us is going to do it’ – whatever ‘it’ might be. I’d be happy to be real specific about what I’ve been doing about quality-of-life issues in my area: visits, calls, letters – ranging from 1st precinct to Safety Committee meetings to VA ABC hq to Governor’s office – and responses or lack thereof. What I cannot elicit – anywhere the subject arises – are specific suggestions for remedial action. Lots of people are saying “We should do something about….” but nobody’s saying “what.”
IS ANYONE OUT THERE INTERESTED IN REPRESENTING CHURCH HILL IN THE NEXT ELECTION????
OUR SUCCESS IN HAVING A SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD, ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND CHANGING THE WAY PEOPLE THINK OF CHURCH HILL DEPENDS ON NEW REPRESENTATION ON CITY COUNCIL.
I HAVE HEARD REGGIE MALONE IS GOING TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL…I THINK THE MAYOR IS AWARE OF OUR LACK OF REPRESENTATION BUT HE CAN’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ITS THE VOTERS IN CHURCH HILL AND THE REMAINDER OF THE 7TH DISTRICT.
There is a neighborhood crime watch North of Broad. If interested contact Laura Daab at mystery@i2020.net.
We need all the help we can get….
please tell of your crime watch.
Someone that is responsive to the needs of the Church Hill area needs to run for council and not Mr. Malone.
any suggestions????
James contact Laura. She can explain the program alot better than I can.