‘How very loved he was’: Family begs for answers after deadly assault in Scott’s Addition
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The family of 26-year-old Jacob Baldwin made a desperate cry for help at his vigil the morning of Friday, Oct. 18. The Chesterfield County man died days after he was hit in the head during an altercation in Richmond's Scott's Addition -- and his loved ones are begging for answers. Richmond Police received report of an aggravated assault at 2:14 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12. When they arrived, they found Baldwin unresponsive, face down in the intersection of West Marshall and North Sheppard streets. Baldwin was immediately taken to a local hospital, where he died days later on Wednesday, Oct. 16. “Shock, disbelief, denial," said long-time friend Natalie Baker of how she felt when Baldwin passed. "We were praying so hard that he would make it through this and recover." Baldwin's family and friends came together for the vigil on Friday in the same intersection where he was found unresponsive. They have one message for whoever knows something about what happened to him: they want them to “come forward.” Vigil for 26-year-old Jacob Baldwin, held at West Marshall and North Sheppard streets -- the Scott's Addition intersection where he was assaulted. He died days later. (Photo: Alexis Bellamy/8News)Vigil for 26-year-old Jacob Baldwin, held at West Marshall and North Sheppard streets -- the Scott's Addition intersection where he was assaulted. He died days later. (Photo: Alexis Bellamy/8News)Vigil for 26-year-old Jacob Baldwin, held at West Marshall and North Sheppard streets -- the Scott's Addition intersection where he was assaulted. He died days later. (Photo: Alexis Bellamy/8News)Vigil for 26-year-old Jacob Baldwin, held at West Marshall and North Sheppard streets -- the Scott's Addition intersection where he was assaulted. He died days later. (Photo: Alexis Bellamy/8News) "To lose your child -- it just should not happen," said another family friend. "So we are on a mission to have whoever did this come forward. A terrible, terrible, senseless act that happened.” Community activist Charles Willis said this vigil should never have needed to be arranged. "We should not be here -- not at all," he said. "Here we are, over an altercation or a situation where it could have been resolved without resorting to violence." PREVIOUS: Homicide investigation underway after Chesterfield man dies following ‘altercation’ in Richmond Richmond detective Louis Burrell said that the area where Baldwin was attacked is popular and sees a lot of traffic -- which is something he said the department will try to stay on top of. "We have extra patrols during the time the bars are let out," Burrel said. "There's a lot of them over here. So it's difficult to get coverage. But I'm sure another plan will be put in place with this tragic incident happening to get more coverage." Baker said the focus of today was honoring Baldwin and his memory. "It just shows how very loved he was in the community and how many people are supporting him and supporting the family," she said. "It's just a beautiful tribute to him." Investigators said that they have identified at least three persons of interest in the assault and are working on identifying them. They are described as two men and one woman. According to Burrell, they were in the immediate area at the time of Baldwin's attack and may have seen something.
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The family of 26-year-old Jacob Baldwin made a desperate cry for help at his vigil the morning of Friday, Oct. 18. The Chesterfield County man died days after he was hit in the head during an altercation in Richmond's Scott's Addition -- and his loved ones are begging for answers.
Richmond Police received report of an aggravated assault at 2:14 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12. When they arrived, they found Baldwin unresponsive, face down in the intersection of West Marshall and North Sheppard streets.
Baldwin was immediately taken to a local hospital, where he died days later on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
“Shock, disbelief, denial," said long-time friend Natalie Baker of how she felt when Baldwin passed. "We were praying so hard that he would make it through this and recover."
Baldwin's family and friends came together for the vigil on Friday in the same intersection where he was found unresponsive. They have one message for whoever knows something about what happened to him: they want them to “come forward.”
Vigil for 26-year-old Jacob Baldwin, held at West Marshall and North Sheppard streets -- the Scott's Addition intersection where he was assaulted. He died days later. (Photo: Alexis Bellamy/8News)
Vigil for 26-year-old Jacob Baldwin, held at West Marshall and North Sheppard streets -- the Scott's Addition intersection where he was assaulted. He died days later. (Photo: Alexis Bellamy/8News)
Vigil for 26-year-old Jacob Baldwin, held at West Marshall and North Sheppard streets -- the Scott's Addition intersection where he was assaulted. He died days later. (Photo: Alexis Bellamy/8News)
Vigil for 26-year-old Jacob Baldwin, held at West Marshall and North Sheppard streets -- the Scott's Addition intersection where he was assaulted. He died days later. (Photo: Alexis Bellamy/8News)
"To lose your child -- it just should not happen," said another family friend. "So we are on a mission to have whoever did this come forward. A terrible, terrible, senseless act that happened.”
Community activist Charles Willis said this vigil should never have needed to be arranged.
"We should not be here -- not at all," he said. "Here we are, over an altercation or a situation where it could have been resolved without resorting to violence."
Richmond detective Louis Burrell said that the area where Baldwin was attacked is popular and sees a lot of traffic -- which is something he said the department will try to stay on top of.
"We have extra patrols during the time the bars are let out," Burrel said. "There's a lot of them over here. So it's difficult to get coverage. But I'm sure another plan will be put in place with this tragic incident happening to get more coverage."
Baker said the focus of today was honoring Baldwin and his memory.
"It just shows how very loved he was in the community and how many people are supporting him and supporting the family," she said. "It's just a beautiful tribute to him."
Investigators said that they have identified at least three persons of interest in the assault and are working on identifying them. They are described as two men and one woman. According to Burrell, they were in the immediate area at the time of Baldwin's attack and may have seen something.
