Police said they responded to a call for random gunfire at the Ashley Oaks Apartments on the 1500 block of Jennie Scher Road at 2:30 p.m. Moments later another call came in reporting a person shot in the same area.
Upon arrival, they found a man in his 20’s who had sustained a gunshot wound in the parking lot. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
This is the 13th homicide in the East End in 2016, and the 2nd in that immediate area in less than a week.
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Tychelle R. Johnson, 25, was killed in the 1500 block of Jennie Scher Road just after 1:30 a.m. Thursday from an apparent gunshot wound.
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The vigil for Johnson will be held on Monday, Dec. 5 at 5 p.m. at the Ashler Oaks Apartment complex, located in the 1500 Block of Jennie Scher Rd.
12 comments
This is really really sad. So….is that property just being completely mismanaged? It’s all Section 8, correct? Owned by some firm out of Florida per tax records. Anything that can be done here by community?
Short of buying it, no. The police need to more “community policing” in the area. With the shortage of personnel and lack of leadership from the Police Chief I don’t think that’s going to happen. The police precinct in this area has become invisible in the last year. When was the last time you saw a patrol in your area?
This is the third shooting and second death in less than a week on the Government Rd corridor. It makes me wonder if they’re related.
Regarding gunshots in general, in my experience, calling the cops regarding gunshots results in very little action of substance. A couple of years ago I called regarding three shots from a car on Carlisle ave in Fulton. 1st cop just drove by while we stood in the street next to the casings. So we called again. Second cop came, looked at the casings and smiled and simply stated ‘Well, I guess that’s just life in the city.” Worse than useless.
@Bill
Please explain your comment regarding the lack of leadership from chief Durham? Is this a baseless opinion or do you have evidence to support this?
It seems there is a news article at least a couple times a month explaining that the RPD is loosing officers due to lack of pay and resources, and they are leaving faster than they can be replaced.
Having a lack of resources and man power is the biggest issue plaguing the RPD right now.
In the community this year drug overdoses has been spiking.
Does anyone else think the increase in drugs and decrease of officers has anything to do with this increase of crime?
Most people that post on this website are not aware of what goes on on the non-broad part of church hill and are unaware of its history and culture. Most are also unaware of the community dynamics and changes that have occurred with the recent generations of young folks. Most want to ignore what is going on in the community, until something happens to them personally, then they are outraged and try to find answers…
All in all that’s why I look at this website almost everyday. John does a great job of letting people know what’s going on in the neighborhood.. the good or the bad.
#4, my initial take on Durham was skeptical but I’ve been increasingly impressed as his time in the city has increased. Not only is he actively involved with and in ‘the community’ but he’s pushing hard to fix a long time wrong regarding RPD’s pay situation. Council has been playing games with first responders for years and taxpayers are stuck with the results…and it’s not that council hasn’t known what the situation is or what the eventual outcome would be. I’m one of many who’s lobbied for funding during several budget periods over the last few years…with mixed response from council members…our council person neither acknowledges nor responds to communication though several other district reps have. And after the latest budget talk rounds, and having been apprised of the RPD situation by Durham and lots of the non-RPD public, one council person complained, like she was surprised at the situation, about lack of police presence in her neighborhood and Durham explained that “…it’s too late to be asking these questions, reminding her that six times during the negotiations leading up to the adoption of the fiscal year 2017 budget, which begins Friday, he had pleaded for more officers.” The hit on public safety in Richmond is pretty much another symptom of elected officials all across the country who are out of touch with the people who pay the bills
(the above quote is from http://www.richmond.com/news/local/city-of-richmond/article_0a1d53a9-7913-5ec4-a475-d211e75a2fc9.html)
@Daniel
“Most people that post on this website are not aware of what goes on on the non-broad part of church hill and are unaware of its history and culture. Most are also unaware of the community dynamics and changes that have occurred with the recent generations of young folks.”
I figure some things out by talking with my neighbors who grew up here, but is there a larger place to go–some exhibit, forum, community conversation–to learn about these larger dynamics?
Chief Durham doesn’t deserve to have shade thrown at him. He shows up to practically ever scene where a killing takes place, and he calls out community members who choose to stay silent. He has pleaded with city council for more money to hire, train, and pay cops. Look at the frustration of council person Reva Trammell, she has been pleading for more money for our cops for years, but instead the money goes to a football practice field or an out of town brewery. Maybe this administration would have found more money for police if more police were members of Dwight’s church?
Montrose Heights resident here…
It’s been frustrating that the violence has been increasing–however I’ll offer some recognition for efforts made:
* Ashley Oaks — constant property management, cleaning, improvement etc. I see maintenance staff on the grounds almost daily.
* Ashley Oaks — Implemented Parking pass policy. A year or 2 ago they started towing vehicles of non-residents in the parking lots. Although non-tenants can still park on the street, I consider that a major step in improving security.
* RPD — Dunham — Beacon lights… I see these guys. I see them everyday on govt road, Jennie Sher, fulton, etc. They’re here
* RPD — beat cops — They care. Lt. McRoy urged me to join NextDoor.com and get connected. Officer Esposito helped me stop being discouraged–helped me understand it’s okay to call 911 even for the little stuff.
* RPD — beat cops — they show up. I call in gunfire and they’re patrolling within 2 minutes.
@Daniel, Re: ” Most are also unaware of the community dynamics and changes that have occurred with the recent generations of young folks.”.
Would you mind enlightening us transplants as to those dynamics changes?
From the RPD:
Richmond Police detectives are conducting an investigation into the fatal shooting yesterday of Karriem Brown, 28, of the 7000 block of Warwick Road, Newport News, VA.
At approximately 2:29 p.m., Saturday, December 3, officers were called to the 1500 block of Jennie Scher Road for a report of a person shot. Officers found Brown’s body lying on the ground near an apartment building. He had suffered apparent gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
While initially giving the appearance of a homicide, the case is currently classified as a death investigation while detectives review witness statements and process forensic evidence collected at the scene.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Major Crimes Detective Michael Goudman at (804) 646-3915 or contact Crime Stoppers at 780-1000 or at http://www.7801000.com.
Submit tips to GUN250 about persons illegally possessing guns by texting Crime Stoppers at 274637, then using keyword “GUN250” followed by your tip. Rewards up to $250. Crime Stoppers methods are anonymous.
@mary
Just for the record I’m a fan of Durham
@cagraham
A great start would be attending church (if your into that) at the Robinson theatre or attending one of the many various activities they have there.
@lane
Officer Esposito is a great guy, I’ve also had great interaction w him over the years
@wargibfa
To be honest I don’t have the time, nor is a post to this forum adequate to try and start to explain the dynamics
If your serious about learning about the community changes and dynamics, my advice would be email John Murden, invite him to Talk to you for 15-30 min (or longer) and buy him a coffee dinner, or beer. He is a wealth of knowledge and is involved with many groups in the community. That will get you started.
@Daniel- I used to be a regular at Robinson before they started charging for classes, actually. From what ‘ve seen, it’s an extremely segregated environment. (And not for the lack of trying on my part.)