24 Responses to “shooting on 400 block of 31st”

1. posted by ht at August 30, 2006 1:51 pm :
   

   Where are these kids parents?! They should be investigated and any other children in the house should be put in foster care! Who lets their 15 year old run around at 6AM with guns? How is it that they can be so coldhearted at such a young age? Someone has got to be held responsible! Children don’t just do this stuff. It doesn’t come naturally. This type of behavior is learned which means that someone is guilty of bad parenting to say the least!

2. posted by Grumpasaurus at August 30, 2006 2:15 pm :
   

   If only they had held a back to school parade to get them more excited about learning…wait, the city DID spend $30K on such an event.

   The city needs to go to a 0 tolerance system of policing. These kids probably had previous crimes that were ignored.

3. posted by CM at August 30, 2006 3:25 pm :
   

   As a new resident in Church Hill, my real question is: do I need to worry about my safety when I leave the house at 5:45AM? I always make sure my porch lights are on and I’m on the lookout for suspicious activity, but I have to confess that I don’t often approach my car wondering if I’m about to be robbed and shot. Does this happen frequently? And is the violence so random? Being alert and making good decisions is par for the course, but now that a man was shot within half a block from my house, I’m starting to get really worried…

4. posted by Daniel at August 30, 2006 4:05 pm :
   

   CM: This is the first local random violence we’ve seen since we’ve moved in about 10 months ago. It is a scary thing, but the occational random violence does happen everywhere. It’s definitely not been a frequent happening if that makes things any better.

5. posted by Heather at August 30, 2006 4:42 pm :
   

   CM: I completely agree with Daniel. I’ve been in the Hill for 4 or 5 years and I can’t recall anything like this happening before.

6. posted by juju at August 30, 2006 7:58 pm :
   

   oh yeah, except for the random libby park brutal rape/beating a few years ago. i was not here for that, but have been told about it in hushed undertones from locals. that’s enough to scare anyone from moving in to the hood. gheesh. i am seriously hoping that this city gets a handle on crime like this. zero tolerance. absolutely.

7. posted by john m at August 30, 2006 8:06 pm :
   

   juju — There is some info about that on this site, if you search for Libby Hill. The attack occured before this site was around, but subsequent and realted events left a trace here.

8. posted by juju at August 30, 2006 8:12 pm :
   

   hi john - thanks. i’ve actually researched this crime quite a bit as we are moving into a house very near libby park. so discouraging. are we moving into the neighborhood anyway? yes. are we installing an alarm system, motion lights, quality deadbolts, and watching our backs when out at night? YOU BETCHA.

9. posted by John m at August 31, 2006 6:30 am :
   

   RTD: Juveniles are charged in East End slaying

10. posted by cb at August 31, 2006 1:39 pm :
    

    The murdered man fell just feet from our front porch. We were awakened by the gunshots. And, after only one month on the Hill, we are totally ready to leave. We have all of the bells and whistles in our alarm system, but does that mean that we are now a prisoner in our own home. We just as well be in jail where those horrible murderers belong. And what about that murdered man? Who was he? Where did he live? Was he walking or carjacked? We would like some info. for what little bit of peace of mind that we are able to gather. We knew that living in the city would mean being cautious, but all of the things that we moved here for - such as… walking to the Hill St. Cafe for dinner, have been taken away now. We do not have words to express our disgust with this entire incidence including the lack of info. being communicated from the police to those of us that live in front of the spot where a man who had been shot to death laid for over 5 hours. This might be just another day in the “hood” for some, but we have never experienced anything so horrific in our entire lives. Someone please tell us, after this incidence… do you allow your children to play in their backyards, do you sit on your front porch or do you lock your doors and turn on your alarms and sit in fear?

11. posted by archie bunker at August 31, 2006 1:57 pm :
    

    cb, I totally understand where you’re coming from. But, give it some time and realize that horrible things happen everywhere. To use a recent example, 21 year old women get abducted in the parking lot of posh shopping malls. I’m sure it doesn’t make you feel any better, but there’s crime — even violent crime — everywhere.

    Now, having said that, things have been bad in Church Hill recently, for sure. But, the recent trend is an anomally. In my time on the Hill (more than 3 years), practically all of the violent crime has been limited to criminal on criminal violence. Granted, there’s probably more of that on the Hill than in, say, Goochland, but I’ve usually found it somewhat comfrting that if you stay away from that sort of thing, you’ll probably be fine.

    I still recommend caution at all times, of course.

12. posted by me at August 31, 2006 2:41 pm :
    

    I also cannot get this poor man out of my head. It is horrifying on so many levels. I want to have a name and know a little about his life. It seems so incredibly cold to witness his lifeless body in the street but know nothing of him as a living human. It may be that it could happen anywhere but it happened on our street in our neighborhood. He now is a part of all of us who saw him. We now have memories of a man shot to death lying on our street for hours. CB - I have nothing to say to help you feel better but just know there are many of us out there just as distraught by this event. Not for ourselves but for the man who lost his life.

13. posted by Heather at August 31, 2006 2:58 pm :
    

    CB - I am so sorry that you are having to experience this after such a short time in the Hill. I’ve been here 4 or 5 yrs and this is NOT normal. Like Archie said, it’s normally between the criminals and doesn’t really spill into our streets. This is a great neighborhood with wonderful people who watch out for each other. There was a shooting a few months ago near my apt at 24th and Clay. It was a dispute between “acquaintances”. Myself and all our neighbors were outside within minutes looking for the victim and ready to talk to police. My neighbors and I sit on our porches at the same times every morning and usually relax on our porches in the evening. CB, I suggest that you get to know your neighbors, contact the Church Hill Association, get to know the Lt and officers, be careful and observant but locking yourself away won’t make you feel any safer and certainly won’t deter further crime from happening in your area. Sincerely~Heather

14. posted by VCS at August 31, 2006 3:16 pm :
    

    CB, CM and all fairly new neighbors,

    I echo what Heather & others have said. I have been in CH for 8 years now and this rash of crime is really an anomaly. Besides the Libby Hill rape and a rash of break-ins years ago, this appears to be one of the safer ‘inner city’ ‘hoods if you look at the crime stats thing put out by the police (which I haven’t looked at in a while). I’m sure it’s skewed a bit now w/all that’s going on however. But here is a link in case you want to check us out against other ‘hoods like barton heights, highland park and the fan. It’s interesting stuff. Hang in there and I’m sorry you have encountered this so early. I seriously don’t know that I’ve ever even heard a gunshot in the time I’ve lived in CH. http://www.ci.richmond.va.us/applications/crimeinfo/index.asp

15. posted by Brandi at August 31, 2006 3:17 pm :
    

    The cops need to read this! Something needs to be done! This little shits need to pay for what they have done! I also was broken into in the 30th block of Broad and if I see anyone riding my bike through the neighborhood, I will chase them down in my car!!

16. posted by cb at August 31, 2006 6:05 pm :
    

    I want to thank the many folks that take the time and concern to write on this site. I also want to thank you for your words of encouragement. I will be at future meetings and will watch out and be cautious and report suspicious behavior. However, seeing a dead man and realizing that he was one of us that gets up and goes to work each day and has a life - most likely a family and church and… it is just gut wrenching to me. I just cannot shake this. A life has ended. It cannot be brought back. If it were myself, my husband or children, it is the same. Forever gone… no coming back. And, yes crime happens everywhere, but I must say that in my 40 plus years, this is the first time that I have ever been awakened by gunshots and seen a dead body lying by my front porch. We can watch out for “our hill”, but these bastards have NO concern for you, your family, your life, your home, nothing. They only live and breathe drugs and gangs and their yo, yo what’s up shit. They need to be educated and in many cases incarcerated. Unfortunately, I cannot have it done at the expense of my family’s well being. This is just a house to me. Again, I want to emphasize that I will be vigilant as long as I am here and hopefully everyone will do the same in return for me. I will close with… the family of that poor dead man is in my prayers.

17. posted by Ryan at August 31, 2006 9:25 pm :
    

    I want to echo my thoughts and prayers for the man slain yesterday. I witnessed him laying there on my way to work and it has been with me ever sense. I can not believe the lack of information or news coverage in this town not only on this event but also in getting the word out about the break-ins as of late. I have spoken with people in the area and unless they come to this site they had little to no knowledge of the break-ins or at dinner last night at the Hill several people hadn’t heard about the murder only 3 blocks away that morning.

    cb –I have lived here for two years and right after moving in I heard some gun shots right near my house on 33rd and Clay. About two months in owning my house I was thinking what the heck am I doing here. Then a man knocked on my door…who is your neighbor on 31st to ask permission to the land between my house and the one on the corner he was about to refurbish. The blighted boarded up house which now is on the market has been beautifully restored in and out. It is that progress that made me realize why I moved down here in the first place. I felt then as I do now that this is a community that is only getting better. The event that happened is not the normal but it is a bone chilling reminder of the kind of element that does lurk in the area.

    I can’t promise that it will get better or another person won’t be slain on our streets but we have to live our lives and take proper precautions to protect ourselves. The feelings that I have felt the past day+ I liken to the feelings many have felt just 5 years ago on a dark Sept. day or during the 95 sniper events. Hopelessness and wondering if I am safe. But I won’t let any person or situation keep me from living because if I just lock myself in my house then they have already won.–Ryan

18. posted by John at September 1, 2006 6:36 am :
    

    RTD: Shooting victim in city identified

    Richmond police yesterday identified the man shot to death during a robbery Wednesday in the East End as 60-year-old Holt Smith.

19. posted by mercedes at September 1, 2006 10:05 am :
    

    I just heard about this site yesterday. I was just complaining to my husband about the absence of shared information up here on the hill and my continued disappoint in the local news and the neighborhood association. I live at the end of Marshall St. and unless someone in our little area hears about whats going on in the rest of the neighborhood or witnesses something personally, we get little info. Not to scare the folks new to the neighborhood, especially those that are on the edge of the more developed area, but gunshots and gun violence are certainly a part of our lives here. Less than six months ago a young man was chased across the Chimbro. Elem. School teachers parking lot and shot on the corner of 31st and Clay at 5:30pm. I happened to be playing with my kids in the playground. The young man didn’t die and therefore it didn’t make the news. Disturbing? Yes. Have I stopped taking my kids to the playground? No. This is an ever changing area with high end condos going in on one block and deserted, desolate houses on another. The only way to make things safer up here is to meet your neighbors, all your neighbors, stay as informed as possible about problems and problem areas, call in any and all concerns you have to the police, and just pay attention to your surroundings. The police in the area respond quickly and with purpose. The rash of breakins that has been apparently sweeping the neighborhood was a well kept secret until my neighbor had her house broken into and the police that came to the scene informed us that there were a number of similar incidents occuring on the Hill. Why can’t we get this information out to everyone? Why am I just now learning about this web site and I’ve lived here for over two years? Let’s get the word out and get everyone involved in making postive changes here on the hill. On a positive note for all the new folks, I love my neighbors! Some have been here a few months, some for 50+ years and they all couldn’t be nicer, more helpful and concerned about the safety and well being of their neighbors. Give the neighborhood a chance. We need concerned, law abiding, compassionate people to stay here in the city and in the neighborhood if we ever hope to see it change for the better, for everyone that lives here.

20. posted by usmcpop at September 20, 2006 2:42 pm :
    

    The victim was Mr. Holt Smith, a Vietnam Vet (Bronze Star, Purple Heart). As a teenager, he marched with Dr. Martin Luther King in several cities and was once arrested with Dr. King in Birmingham.

    http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149190669284

21. posted by john m at September 20, 2006 5:15 pm :
    

    follow-up

22. posted by anonymous at September 25, 2006 1:14 pm :
    

    bluh bluh bluh shut the fuck up yall r sum krazi ass mothafuckaz yall need 2 get a lyfe n mind yall own niznesses

23. posted by ht at September 26, 2006 10:29 am :
    

    anonymous- you mispelled blah, blah, blah and…well almost everything else you posted. By the way, we have lives and it is our business.

24. posted by SW at September 26, 2006 11:35 am :
    

    HT, Anonymous if probably one of the parents responsible for one of the delinquents this perpetrated this crime. I must say that I’m not all that surprised. Typical verbiage from this type of person I might add… If they can’t say something important, they just use profanity and tell us to mind our own business. Since we live here and deal with this crap day in and day out, I agree…it is OUR business because this is OUR neighborhood… Funny, also how they post this anonymously.

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