RICHMOND, Va. -- Marijuana is behind Richmond's recent spike in gun violence, based on Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham. Speaking to media on the scene of Richmond's newest murder, the chief took intention on the drug that has been legalized in eight states and the District of Columbia.
"The majority of the gun violence is tied to marijuana. We talk about drugs. Not heroin, not cocaine, but marijuana," the chief mentioned whereas detectives investigated Wednesday evening's double murder on Decatur Street in South Richmond. "I can't say if that's the case here, but that's what we've seen in a lot of our shootings in recent days."
The chief indicated marijuana drug offers had been the foundation of many recent Richmond taking pictures.
Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham
"The last couple of days we have seen a significant increase in the individuals being shot here in the city," the chief mentioned. "We are approaching the summer and it's like the tide -- it ebbs and flows."
Richmond Shooting Spree
In the final 10 days, a few of the shootings investigated by Richmond Police embrace:
The morning of May 30, a man was shot on East Broad Street, close to the Convention Center, in downtown Richmond. Witnesses said the taking pictures occurred after the sufferer and suspect obtained into an argument.
A 31-year-old Richmond man was arrested the same day and charged with felonious assault and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.
One individual was shot alongside the 300 block of East Broad Street on May 30.
The subsequent day, May 31, 28-year-old Tyreece D. Gayles was shot and killed inside a house on Ambrose Street in Whitcomb Court. His case was categorized as "a death investigation." An arrest within the case has not but been made.
Over the weekend, on June four, there was a Sunday night shooting outside the 7-Eleven on Patterson Avenue, close to Libbie Avenue, in Richmond's West End.
A 19-year-old Richmond man was arrested in connection to the taking pictures and charged with two counts of tried homicide and two counts of use of a firearm in fee of a felony. Crime Insider sources instructed reporter Jon Burkett stemmed from a botched drug deal.
On Tuesday afternoon, pictures had been fired after an argument between males at a South Belvidere Street barber store.
Police mentioned the 2 males had been arguing inside a barber store when the violence spilled onto the sidewalk and pictures had been fired.
Crime Insider sources instructed Jon Burkett the argument over marijuana.
Investigators mentioned one man opened fireplace and shot one other man within the chest.
The sufferer was rushed to the hospital and survived the taking pictures. No arrest has been introduced the taking pictures.
Decatur Street Double Homicide
Detectives are nonetheless investigating Wednesday evening's double murder, hoping to establish suspects and a motive.
"This is a quiet neighborhood. We have not had any violence in this area at all this year," Chief Durham mentioned on the Southside crime scene. "I know in years past we had some challenges in this community, but that has not been the case for this year."
Police had been referred to as to the 3600 block of Decatur Street at about 9:53 p.m. when somebody reported listening to gunfire.
"Officers arrived and found a male down and unresponsive in the street. Nearby on the sidewalk another male was found down and unresponsive. Both had suffered an apparent gunshot wound," a Richmond Police spokesperson mentioned. "Responders from the Richmond Ambulance Authority pronounced both males dead at the scene. The Medical Examiner will determine cause and manner of death."
Chief Durham inspired neighbors who noticed one thing -- to say one thing.
"We are doing the very best we can as a police department, I think the community is fed up, we've been getting a lot of eyewitness accounts of what's going on in our communities and we still need that support," he mentioned.
Anyone with details about the Decatur Street murder was requested to name Major Crimes Detective J. Fultz at 804-646-3929 or Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.
Police Chief: Marijuana is fueling recent Richmond shootings
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