Tuesday Drag

Some interestingly poetic prose to lead off this piece from Mr. Fischer this morning. I guess even he (or an assisting Mr. Geluardi) wants to bring some life to the tragedy that was yesterday afternoon.

To all candidates, to all in power, and to anyone reading this who can make a difference: MAKE THIS STOP!

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25-year-old shot dead on front stoop
RICHMOND: Neighbors outraged by fourth killing in just two days

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Richmond's third daylight street killing in two days left hundreds seething near Nevin Park on Monday afternoon, hot from the September sun, hot from the shattered peace.

"I heard the gunshots," said 21-year-old Tasha Jones, who parked beside the crime tape with her two toddlers. "It just ain't safe in Richmond no more."

Police spent the afternoon collecting crime-scene evidence, holding back screaming relatives and enduring the angry taunts of onlookers as the region's two-day casualty total rose to four dead and two wounded by street violence.

Monday's victim, 25-year-old Sedrick Lionel Mills, was sitting on the front stoop of a two-story house near the corner of Fifth Street and Nevin Avenue in the Iron Triangle neighborhood when someone walked up and shot him about 1:15 p.m. Police said they have identified a suspect and were searching for him Monday evening.

The killing does not appear to be linked to violence a day earlier, Richmond police Lt. Mark Gagan said. Three died in 10 hours Sunday, including two in successive drive-by shootings at rival drug-dealing corners. In the first, the gunmen opened fire with a law enforcement officer across the road in plain view.

Community leaders grasped for answers Monday afternoon and called for the shootings to stop.

"I'm trying to find out what's going on so we can get out to some of these neighborhoods and talk to people," said the Rev. Andre Shumake, president of the Richmond Interfaith Council. "We're trying to have some dialogue to see how we can stop this."

The killing started a few minutes before noon Sunday, when gunmen in a car peppered a crowd with handgun and assault-weapon rounds in front of Rancho Market at the corner of Fifth Street and Market Avenue in unincorporated North Richmond.

One round struck 16-year-old Sean Melson's head, killing him at the scene. Another round struck a 17-year-old on the hand, Contra Costa sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee said.

A half-hour later, 19-year-old Thomas Edward James Jr. died near the corner of Seventh Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in a probable retaliatory shooting, police said, and a 27-year-old man went to the hospital with a leg wound. Other rounds narrowly missed a 4-year-old.

Several hours later, at 9:48 p.m., the family of 48-year-old Mariano Morales-Velasquez reported finding his body inside his home on 39th Street between Macdonald and Nevin avenues. He was shot more than once, and police believe the killing occurred during a home-invasion robbery.

Melson and James both died near long-established rival hangouts notorious for drug dealing and street violence. Police do not know whether either was targeted by his attackers; James' family said he was not involved in crime.

"We had some information that there may be a relationship between the shootings, but we have received no corroboration," Richmond Detective Sgt. Lee Hendricsen said.

Melson died near one of North Richmond's most active gang corners. It was not the first time someone shot him.

Detectives had identified Melson as a member of a south Richmond gang mired in a bloody feud with a rival faction last year, Detective Sgt. Mitch Peixoto said. In March 2005, when he was 14, Melson went to the hospital with a leg wound from a shooting near the Easter Hill housing project.

The following month, police said they saw Melson flee from a traffic stop while carrying an AK-47 assault weapon, which was later linked to a double homicide. Police arrested him on suspicion of weapon possession, and he went to Juvenile Hall.

After his release, Melson lived outside the area, in part because of a geographic restraining order, police said. But he had been seen locally recently, particularly near the North Richmond market.

Lee confirmed that a Contra Costa Animal Services officer, in uniform and in a marked vehicle, was parked across the street from the market when the shooting happened. Detectives are pursuing leads in the case, he said.

James, who had attended high school in Fairfield, came to visit family on Pennsylvania Avenue shortly after noon Sunday. Relatives said a Cadillac parked in front of the house prevented further tragedy by absorbing rounds that would have struck James' 4-year-old cousin, who was playing next to the car when the shooting started.

"He was not here five minutes. He was just standing outside on the sidewalk when they shot him," said Janice Hudson, James' aunt.

"He was hit right there," she said, pointing to a spot beside a bullet-riddled Cadillac, "then he ran down the block and collapsed.

"They don't care who they're shooting at," she said. "They just come down here and shoot."

Monday's killing was the 28th homicide in Richmond this year. At this time last year, there were 25.

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

HOW TO HELP

Richmond police ask anyone with information about Sunday or Monday's shootings to call Detective Esteban Barragan at 510-231-3053, Detective Sgt. Lee Hendricsen at 510-620-6616 or the anonymous tip line at 510-232-TIPS.