Healing takes many forms

Suspected 'kingpin' pleads guilty

A Richmond man pleaded guilty Friday to federal gun possession charges.

Vincent "V.I." Jones, 21, entered his plea as part of a deal to serve more than six years in federal prison and stay out of Richmond when he is released.

Richmond police called Jones a "kingpin" and "enforcer" for a south Richmond street gang when they started a high-profile manhunt for him in the summer of 2005.

Officers arrested Jones on Oct. 1, 2005, after a traffic stop in Richmond followed by a chase through backyards.

He was carrying a semiautomatic pistol. The U.S. attorney prosecuted Jones using the federal "trigger lock" law that imposes penalties on felons carrying firearms that had crossed state lines. Jones had a prior conviction for carjacking.

His sentencing is set for March 9 in U.S. District Court in Oakland.

-- Bruce Gerstman

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Bravo! Every little bit helps, even if it's only 6 years on a weapons charge. A thug in Club Fed is a thug that can't be on Richmond streets.

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Group salves wounds of violence
RICHMOND: Community gathers for Christmas event to offer hope of peace to those touched by area killings

By Justin Hill
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

On April 26, 2004, Sharon Strong's "baby," Jessie Ray Hill, was killed in Richmond when at least one gunman fired more than a dozen rounds at the 26-year-old.

"I hurt today just as if it happened yesterday," Strong said.

Strong had an opportunity Friday to heal alongside others who have lost a relative to violence during an afternoon of remembrance, healing and divine intentions at Veterans Hall in Richmond. The families of those killed were treated to a Christmas-like meal, and children received toys.

The day's purpose was to promote healing and give victims' relatives the chance to mentor the community to stop the violence, said Charlene Harris, an El Cerrito resident and founder and executive director of Mothers Against Senseless Killing, the organization that hosted the event.

"This is a day that we want to promote peace on our streets," Harris, who lost a nephew and two cousins to gun violence, told the crowd. "There's too much pain going on."

It has been a bloody year in Richmond.

Last week, a 27-year-old man became the city's 41st homicide victim of the year, Richmond's highest total since 1994. The following day, another man died in a shooting in the Parchester Village neighborhood, raising the total to 42. The city also has seen more nonfatal shootings this year than in any since 1993.

Strong said Friday was another chance for victims' families to come together to memorialize their loved ones.

Marvin Webb, assistant pastor at Peniel Missionary Baptist Church in El Sobrante, said the event is a good opportunity to let the relatives of crime victims know people are thinking about them and care about them.

"It's good for healing purposes to acknowledge that somebody cares about them," he said.

Mothers Against Senseless Killing is an organization open to survivors and relatives of victims of violent crime.

Reach Justin Hill at 510-243-3578 or jhill@cctimes.com.

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MASK does beautiful work, and we thank Tazer friend Charlene Harris for everything she does. Peace is more than a mission, more than a goal. For Richmond, it's an imperative that we must achieve.