The Wheels Are Starting To Fall Off...
We at the Tazer aren't trying to "sell more papers" with this headline, it is simply the truth about our city and the swell of violence.
Sadly, it looks as if our predictions for a violent summer may in fact become real. Here's the story from the shootings overnight: (credit Karl Fischer)
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1 dead, 3 hurt in Richmond shootings
Contra Costa Times By Karl Fischer
June 29, 2006
"It looks as though (the attackers) chased him back there, and caught up with him where we found him..."
Shootings in and near a south Richmond neighborhood killed a 30-year-old man and wounded three others overnight.
Police identified no suspects this morning, and asked for help from the public to find some. 'We want to hear from anybody who many have seen anything or heard anything last night in the neighborhood,' police Lt. Shawn Pickett said.
The shootings in the Santa Fe neighborhood ended with a killing near the corner of South 4th Street and Florida Avenue. Neighbors called police about gunfire beginning at 3:18 a.m.
Officers saw nothing when they arrived, but got out of their cars and walked down South 4th to see if they could find shell casings or other evidence, Pickett said.
In front of a house on the 200 block they found a white T-shirt on the sidewalk, and saw a dark T-shirt on the lawn of a nearby house.
When officers approached a side gate of the house, which was uninhabited, they found a dead man face down on a walkway leading to the back yard. Police did not immediately identify him because his family had not been notified.
'It looks as though (the attackers) chased him back there, and caught up with him where we found him,' Pickett said.
Shooting in the neighborhood started around 11 p.m. Wednesday, when several residents near the corner of South 6th Street and Maine Avenue called police to report hearing shots.
Officers could not find victims in the area but, while they searched, the emergency room at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in central Richmond reported a 16-year-old gunshot victim just arrived. He was wounded several times, Pickett said, but police say he will likely survive.
Soon after, a 52-year-old man called from a house on the 300 block of South 6th Street with a gunshot wound in his right thigh. Both victims were taken to local trauma centers for treatment, police said.
Both were shot at the same time and place, Pickett said. 'There may be a relationship' between that incident and a 1 a.m. attack on the 100 block of 13th Street, during which a 26-year-old man was shot in the face with a rifle round.
His injury is not life-threatening, police said. He too went to a local trauma center.
The killing was Richmond's 17th of the year, and the first of the year in the Santa Fe neighborhood.
HOW TO HELP: Police ask anyone with information about the killing to call Detective Steve Harris at 510-620-6628.
Anyone with information about any Richmond shootings can call the department's anonymous tip line at 510-232-TIPS.
Copyright © 2006 Contra Costa Times, All Rights Reserved.
Sadly, it looks as if our predictions for a violent summer may in fact become real. Here's the story from the shootings overnight: (credit Karl Fischer)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 dead, 3 hurt in Richmond shootings
Contra Costa Times By Karl Fischer
June 29, 2006
"It looks as though (the attackers) chased him back there, and caught up with him where we found him..."
Shootings in and near a south Richmond neighborhood killed a 30-year-old man and wounded three others overnight.
Police identified no suspects this morning, and asked for help from the public to find some. 'We want to hear from anybody who many have seen anything or heard anything last night in the neighborhood,' police Lt. Shawn Pickett said.
The shootings in the Santa Fe neighborhood ended with a killing near the corner of South 4th Street and Florida Avenue. Neighbors called police about gunfire beginning at 3:18 a.m.
Officers saw nothing when they arrived, but got out of their cars and walked down South 4th to see if they could find shell casings or other evidence, Pickett said.
In front of a house on the 200 block they found a white T-shirt on the sidewalk, and saw a dark T-shirt on the lawn of a nearby house.
When officers approached a side gate of the house, which was uninhabited, they found a dead man face down on a walkway leading to the back yard. Police did not immediately identify him because his family had not been notified.
'It looks as though (the attackers) chased him back there, and caught up with him where we found him,' Pickett said.
Shooting in the neighborhood started around 11 p.m. Wednesday, when several residents near the corner of South 6th Street and Maine Avenue called police to report hearing shots.
Officers could not find victims in the area but, while they searched, the emergency room at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in central Richmond reported a 16-year-old gunshot victim just arrived. He was wounded several times, Pickett said, but police say he will likely survive.
Soon after, a 52-year-old man called from a house on the 300 block of South 6th Street with a gunshot wound in his right thigh. Both victims were taken to local trauma centers for treatment, police said.
Both were shot at the same time and place, Pickett said. 'There may be a relationship' between that incident and a 1 a.m. attack on the 100 block of 13th Street, during which a 26-year-old man was shot in the face with a rifle round.
His injury is not life-threatening, police said. He too went to a local trauma center.
The killing was Richmond's 17th of the year, and the first of the year in the Santa Fe neighborhood.
HOW TO HELP: Police ask anyone with information about the killing to call Detective Steve Harris at 510-620-6628.
Anyone with information about any Richmond shootings can call the department's anonymous tip line at 510-232-TIPS.
Copyright © 2006 Contra Costa Times, All Rights Reserved.
posted by Plunda Claus @ 12:09 PM
10 Comments:
At June 29, 2006 12:23 PM,
Anonymous said…
So, Irma...
Any answers for 4 casualties besides shutting off microphones or concluding a meeting?
At June 29, 2006 3:53 PM,
Anonymous said…
She is worthless! She is even more worthless than a sack of garbage!
A war of bloodshed, carnage and violence are everywhere in the city of Richmond, and this mayor whose eyes are alway red, DOES NOTHING, NOT DAMN THING! This Mayor and the City Government need to request that the National Guard come in maintain law and order!
Old lady, resigh and resign now!
At June 29, 2006 5:54 PM,
Anonymous said…
While most of the issues discussed on this blog are important and the dialog is frequently constructive, I have a couple of questions and concerns. For all the anger, outrage, and frustration over the ongoing violence in Richmond, do the "regular" contributors have anything constructive to offer in terms of a solution beyond generalities such as "more leadership", "replace the mayor," or "boycott the City?"
The fact is that violence of the sort Richmond is dealing with is the same sort of violence MANY other urban areas have, including cities with totally different political leadership. In addition, Richmond's rate of violent crime has been high (even higher than it is now) under several differeny mayors and councils.
This isn't to defend the current administration . . . By all means, elect whoever you think will do the best job, but don't be surprised if REGARDLESS of who is mayor, the challenges of dealing with this sort of violence continue.
Almost anyone who reads, looks at what's going on in other places, and who is willing to be rational, understands that there is no one simple solution to violent crime--and that while leadership in terms of being willing to try new, different, and creative things IS important, so is allowing best practices the time to work, bringing in good people, and not just approaching the problem in a reactionary way.
In other words, simply asking for the "National Guard" or being more open to criticism at Council meetings ARE NOT real solutions to the problem.
Name calling, profanity, and other expressions of anger only compound an already difficult situation. This blog is great when people engage and expand their minds, as opposed to just venting in an ugly and thoughtless way. My two cents for what it's worth! Thanks!
At June 29, 2006 10:07 PM,
Anonymous said…
Well stated, although the reference to "best practices" might give you away Anonymous!
And doesn't this just scream of being the campaign speech of someone special:
"Name calling, profanity, and other expressions of anger only compound an already difficult situation. This blog is great when people engage and expand their minds, as opposed to just venting in an ugly and thoughtless way"
I guess us Tazers must mind our manners.
At June 29, 2006 10:37 PM,
Anonymous said…
I believe that the two previous postings to be totally correct.
However I believe as well we are hearing a large spectrum of individuals who previously have no outlet or forum to express their feelings and emotions in regards to the killing or violence in this town!
We may not agree with how things are stated here all the time, but people are really frustrated with how nothing is really being done or accomplished by the city government.
Look at that gentlemen Charles Evans at the city council meeting the other night, the man was simply tired of how things were being done. He just wanted results and to get things done.
All of us here in Richmond are tired of the killing and violence, some folks are just more intense about their feelings on the matter as opposed to others. But I am really greatful that at least we have the Richmond Truth Tazer to express our concerns. Some communities really have nothing to voice their opinions with.
At June 29, 2006 11:20 PM,
Anonymous said…
Okay maybe what your saying might be true but that mayor has not done anything. And she thinks she will get my vote this year? Will not be happening, she's all talk and no action.
At June 30, 2006 5:56 AM,
Anonymous said…
No one has to mind their manners. That wasn't my point. I'm not interested in promoting anyone's campaign. I understand the anger and intensity, but I also think we should all be a little leary of people who call for simple, quick solutions to tough, complicated problems. I don't care for politicians that do this; but I also think we get what we deserve as a city when we do this as individual citizens. Being the loudest, most passionate, and most angry doesn't necessarily mean you make sense or that your point is all that great. (I don't think anyone will be using that as a campaign speech in Richmond! :-))
At June 30, 2006 9:11 AM,
Anonymous said…
Well well well, the "Anonymous" formerly known as "Socko" has returned. Long time, no see...
Not that it's some kind of requirement, but I'd like to get this out of the way and point out that you didn't address my comment regarding Irma Anderson. You say that "'regular' contributors" have nothing constructive to offer -- which I do NOT concede! -- but then what do you call the stifling of debate by cutting off microphones and fancy gavel tricks?
>> The fact is that violence of the sort Richmond is dealing with is the same sort of violence MANY other urban areas have...
"Other urban areas" = IRRELEVANT! Stick to Richmond, if you would. Thanks.
>> In addition, Richmond's rate of violent crime has been high (even higher than it is now) under several differeny [sic] mayors and councils.
"Several differeny [sic] mayors and councils" = IRRELEVANT! Stick to the Present, if you would. Thanks.
>> This isn't to defend the current administration...
If what you're doing -- PASSING THE BUCK! -- isn't defending the current administration, I don't know what is! What you call generalities -- "more leadership," "replace the mayor," "boycott the city" -- are very direct and simple calls for change.
In short, if the mayor and city council will not provide "more leadership" by directly addressing issues like violence and fiscal shenanigans, then the violence prevention movement might find it has to "boycott the city" council until it listens, or come November the voters will "replace the mayor." It's all very SPECIFIC once assembled.
>> By all means, elect whoever you think will do the best job, but don't be surprised if REGARDLESS of who is mayor, the challenges of dealing with this sort of violence continue.
Y'know what, despite your pessimism I'm willing to roll those dice, thank you very much! At the very least, a new administration couldn't hurt Richmond more than it's already been wounded. At best, it could really help, and wouldn't that be better for everyone?
>> Almost anyone...understands that there is no one simple solution to violent crime...
You're absolutely right, and anyone that doesn't get that needs to study up. Now, let's further agree that shutting off microphones, ending debate by command, and not discussing "it" is NOT a productive way to approach the problem, either.
>> In other words...being more open to criticism at Council meetings [IS NOT a] real (solution) to the problem.
Read from the bottom of Page 2 of any city agenda and you'll find: "The City Council’s adopted Rules of Procedure recognize that debate on policy is healthy..." But "being more open to criticism" is bad in your eyes, right? So, which one is it: "debate on policy is healthy" or SHUT UP, YOU'RE BEING CRITICAL?
It's too bad if you think that expressions of anger are out of bounds, but frustration can't help but mount when the city council and mayor -- elected, NOT dictators (supposedly) -- stand against so simple and vital a right in democratic society as FREE SPEECH!
At June 30, 2006 11:28 AM,
Anonymous said…
LOL! Irma is really trying hard to influence everybody with appointments, money etc. to ensure that she will continue her lame and dangerous administration!
At June 30, 2006 4:18 PM,
Anonymous said…
Irma Anderson can't seem to stand up to any kind of scrutiny or she wouldn't keep shutting down questioning! Sounds to me like if she can't take the heat she better get out of the mayor's office!
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