Richmond community activist voices concerns about gun violence incidents
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A string of incidents involving gun violence on Monday, Oct. 21, has prompted community activists to encourage Richmonders to speak up. On Monday, Oct. 21, Richmond Police detectives identified the victim in a death investigation after 19-year-old Samir Mejia-Zelaya of Richmond was shot and killed around 1:30 a.m. on Hull Street Road. Officers were called to the 5400 block of Hull Street Road for the report of gunfire. Minutes later the call was upgraded to a shooting in the 5700 block. Once on scene, officers located three adults in a nearby parking lot -- Mejia-Zelaya, down and unresponsive, and a male and a female hurt. Each suffered apparent gunshot wounds and Mejia-Zelaya was pronounced dead at the scene. The second incident happened at 4:44 p.m. when authorities were dispatched to the 3500 block of Stockton Street for a report of a person shot. When officers arrived, a man was found with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his hand. He was then taken to a local hospital for treatment. The final gun incident happened about 6 p.m. at the 2100 block of Ford Avenue for the report of a shooting. Officers found a 16-year-old who had been shot. He was transported to VCU Medical Center suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. United Communities Against Crime Executive Director Charles Willis said authorities can only do so much to stop waves of crime and it's up to everyone to police themselves. “We need to educate them on violence prevention and conflict resolution because we're going to have conflicts, but we have to learn how to resort to resolving those conflicts without committing violence,” Willis said. Willis also suggests community members who are fed up should use their voices to impact change in November’s election. “New election officers and officials that are coming on board, they need to look at some type of legislation," Willis said. All three incidents are still under investigation. The Richmond Police Department is asking anyone with information to contact them.
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A string of incidents involving gun violence on Monday, Oct. 21, has prompted community activists to encourage Richmonders to speak up.
On Monday, Oct. 21, Richmond Police detectives identified the victim in a death investigation after 19-year-old Samir Mejia-Zelaya of Richmond was shot and killed around 1:30 a.m. on Hull Street Road.
Officers were called to the 5400 block of Hull Street Road for the report of gunfire. Minutes later the call was upgraded to a shooting in the 5700 block. Once on scene, officers located three adults in a nearby parking lot -- Mejia-Zelaya, down and unresponsive, and a male and a female hurt. Each suffered apparent gunshot wounds and Mejia-Zelaya was pronounced dead at the scene.
The second incident happened at 4:44 p.m. when authorities were dispatched to the 3500 block of Stockton Street for a report of a person shot.
When officers arrived, a man was found with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his hand. He was then taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The final gun incident happened about 6 p.m. at the 2100 block of Ford Avenue for the report of a shooting.
Officers found a 16-year-old who had been shot. He was transported to VCU Medical Center suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound.
United Communities Against Crime Executive Director Charles Willis said authorities can only do so much to stop waves of crime and it's up to everyone to police themselves.
“We need to educate them on violence prevention and conflict resolution because we're going to have conflicts, but we have to learn how to resort to resolving those conflicts without committing violence,” Willis said.
Willis also suggests community members who are fed up should use their voices to impact change in November’s election.
“New election officers and officials that are coming on board, they need to look at some type of legislation," Willis said.
All three incidents are still under investigation. The Richmond Police Department is asking anyone with information to contact them.
