Fatal Shooting Near The Forest
From the story on WTVR’s site:
It happened around 2 a.m. outside The Forest Restaurant in the 5000 block of Forest Hill Avenue. Someone inside the restaurant heard gunshots and called police. Officers arrived and found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to VCU Medical Center where he later died.
No word on whether the victim was a patron of any businesses in the vicinity.
HOLY CROW! That’s way too close for comfort!
From the Richmond Police:
RTD is now reporting the shooting but only information they have is the word for word police report listed above. http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/HOMIGAT12_20090412-093813/254706/
Some understandable feelings coming out of local blog Southside Richmond. http://www.southsiderichmond.org/2009/04/spring-break-bloody-spring-break/#comment-478
I want more details (random robbery, drug deal gone bad, domestic situation whatever) but I DON’T LIKE living where people are being gunned down 4 blocks away!!!!
I know tragic things can happen anywhere, and I’m not usually out and about at 2am, but that is the second time in a year or so that someone was murdered w/in blocks of my house. Bah. Criminals suck. They are going to drive me to the burbs.
According to WH Neighborhood Watch e-mail tonight, the victim had just left the Locker Room bar. According to police, his assailant was know to him although they didn’t say if they have a specific suspect who they are searching for.
Not much new to report from RTD on the local case this morning but more bad news of a two deaths in Chesterfield: http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/crime/article/BODY13_20090412-222220/255008/
Megan actually has more news on the killing than the RTD. While that is depressing it is also not surprising.
I hear a lot of worry with regards to this incident being too close. This is to be expected. My question would be, just where would one move in order to be safe? As I do not advocate abolishing a citizen’s right to bear arms, why not contact our elected officials. Change the existing laws that favor the criminal’s activities? Other than the military and police officers, who in the world needs assult weapons?
In the short term, when an arrest is made, (tonight, I hope), let’s push to find out about the gun. Was it legally purchased? Where did the shooter get it? Was it legal for him or her to own a handgun? Then let’s pressure the PD and Commonwealth’s Attorney to track the gun pipeline, and get guns out of the hands of illegals.
Wow David, you have a really idealist and unreasonable view of reality. If the police department was capable of miracles like the one you described we’d probably be living in a crime free city by now.
The phrase “cynic” is more normally used to describe me. But this is really a simple one, if it becomes a priority. Some facts: no juvenile can lawfully own or possess a firearm. No convicted felon can own or possess a firearm. No person found to have a mental illness can own or possess a firearm. If we track down and prosecute the source of the guns, we cut down on the number of shootings in a “safe” neighborhood at 2 am.
I’d like to point out how for the last few years violent crime has gone down significantly in our fair city, which I think is rather miraculous actually. So I don’t think this isolated case is cause for losing idealism or for casting aspersions on our hard-working police force.
Zombie, what David is suggesting is following a paper trail, not hunting unicorns. It sounds eminently practical to me.
Not only is David’s suggestion practical – it should be common sense. Crime may have been reduced, but that’s not good enough. Idealism will be of no use to the next victim.
I agree with David’s suggestion, but I’d also point out that idealism is not the same as complacency! I just didn’t think it fair to denigrate the PD. I would never suggest that any violent crime should be treated lightly.
Never denigrate the RPD. Doing a very good job, and have been for several years. Let’s talk about gun sales though. A private citizen, adul, mentally sound with no criminal record can go to a firearms dealer or a gun show, fill out a form and have an instant background check. A convicted felon or a mentally ill person or a juvenile or a foreign agent can go to a gun show, walk up to a private seller buy any weapon with no background check. Perfectly legal. No background check required.
there were lots of people around hopefully the will i.d the shooter. RPD does a great job of keeping westover as safe as possible and i have no doubts this guy will be caught. unfortunately we need to realize it is happening everywhere!! even in our neighborhood.
[...] the Richmond police we learn that a suspect was arrested for the fatal shooting that occurred last spring. The Essex County Sheriff’s Office arrested Trae M. Tate, 25, of Tappahannock, yesterday in [...]
Hello Richard. I view your site daily and I am thankful you follow our neighborhood. We, my wife and 3 year old son, live on Brookside. I heard 3 or 4 shots really close this morning at 4:30. I called 911. Did anyone hear anything?