Violence Strikes Again...

UPDATE: Here's the full story on this tragic event (credit Karl Fischer CC Times):


Crossfire kills Richmond man
By Karl Fischer May 19, 2006

If officials had the opportunity to come to these homicide scenes and see the bodies, the blood and the family's anguish and pain, they would not be saying 'wait,'

Spent roses and burnt crime-scene tape sat in a sticky puddle of blood in front of Oscar Navarro's home Friday morning, precisely marking the spot where he died during a wild crossfire the night before.

Some men hanging around up near the corner of Third Street and Barrett Avenue got into an argument with some other men down the block, Navarro's family said.

The groups advanced on each other. The shots popped like firecrackers -- afterward, about 30 shell casings from at least two weapons littered the block, police said.

The 24-year-old was in front of his house at that moment, hanging out with a small group of relatives and friends on the sidewalk, mid-block on Barrett between the groups. Navarro's companions ran. Navarro didn't.

One of the rounds had struck his head.

'He was working. He would send money back to Mexico, to his father and sister. His father is ill,' said a distraught Everardo Navarro, staring at the sickly puddle covering crabgrass beside the sidewalk in front of the family home.

Police arrested two teenagers on suspicion of murder soon after the 8:30 p.m. shooting at the St. John's apartments on the first block of Macdonald Avenue. Detectives are investigating what role they played in the killing, detective Sgt. Mitch Peixoto said.

The conflict arose between central Richmond street factions. Navarro had nothing to do with it, police said. The 200 block of Barrett, in fact, has had relatively little street crime since a liquor store up the street closed in 2004.

Evarardo Navarro, the victim's brother, said Oscar came to California two years ago to earn American dollars for his family.

'He was a good guy, you know?' said Javier Hernandez, a close friend of the victim. 'He had a lot of little brothers' but no children of his own, Hernandez added.

It was the second night in a row that someone shot an unintended target on city streets, following Thursday's early-morning shooting at South 37th Street and Cutting Boulevard that left a 54-year-old in-home care nurse in critical condition. Police believe the gunmen misidentified her car.

Her family said Thursday she is expected to survive. Police found no suspects in that case.
Navarro's killing was also the second in two weeks in the Iron Triangle neighborhood, which had enjoyed a four-month lull in homicides.

'I prayed for the victim's family and the family of the perpetrator because there are no winners in this madness,' said the Rev. Andre Shumake, who visited the crime scene Thursday. He said city government should work more quickly to develop and fund violence prevention programs.

'If officials had the opportunity to come to these homicide scenes and see the bodies, the blood and the family's anguish and pain, they would not be saying 'wait,'' he said.

After the shooting, witnesses told police that some of the participants fled in a car, while others scattered on foot. With help from police dogs and a security guard at the St. John's complex, officers tracked two suspects to an apartment and arrested them.

Police plan to test a firearm found in the apartment to see whether it was used in the street shooting, Peixoto said. Detectives have developed evidence implicating those arrested, a 17-year-old Richmond youth and his relative, 19-year-old Joshua McClain.

Both were booked into City Jail on suspicion of murder. Detectives still seek community tips about other suspects in the case.

Staff writer John Geluardi contributed to this article. Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

HOW TO HELP
Police ask anyone with information about the killing of Oscar Navarro to call Detective Esteban Barragan at 510-231-3053.


Another day, another murder for no good reason in our city:

From reports received by the Tazer, about 8pm last night, an innocent bystander was caught in a barrage of gunfire between gang factions on Barrett Avenue between 2nd and 3rd streets.

At this time, RPD is looking for those involved in the shootings, but information is limited. This by Tazer count is the 12th killing on our streets this year.

Tazer Note: I suppose this type of thing STILL isn't as important as "benefits for domestic partners" or our city roads, OR giving and receiving awards and recognition eh? The Tazer wonders aloud: Will things get so bad in Richmond that the State or Feds will realize that City leadership is completely clueless and step in with the always popular "Martial Law"? Far fetched you say? Maybe not so much...