Richmond Council President meets with Shockoe business owners days after deadly shooting 

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Richmond city council president Cynthia Newbille finally met with business owners after the deadly mass shooting in Shockoe Bottom.

On Wednesday, Feb. 25, the seventh district leader, along with Richmond Police Department (RPD) Chief Rick Edwards, Commonwealth’s Attorney Colette McEachin and other city officials had a nearly two-hour conversation with Shockoe business owners on how to stop the gun violence in the area and what next steps look like.

According to RPD, 23-year-old Genesis Jones and 42-year-old Dominic Jackson died at the scene on Saturday, Feb. 21 when a fist fight turned into gunfire. Seven other people were taken to the hospital and are expected to survive. Investigators said the violence stemmed from a fight between multiple people who were armed.

Newbille also said legislation from state lawmakers will help to address recommendations from business owners. McEachin also highlighted concealed weapons as a concern her office will be re-evaluating. 

“This is an extraordinary district and one of the most historical areas in the city,” Newbille said. "We’re going to continue to build, evaluate and collaborate."

8News attempted to interview Newbille after the meeting, as we have since the shooting happened, but she declined.

Chief Edwards said they did not expect gunfire that early in the year as they usually prepare for large crowds and people with firearms in mid-March.

He said starting Friday, Feb. 27, the department will have more officers, blocked streets, flashing lights and deploying six new mobile cameras in the area. 

Jackie Bishop Wells is the operator for Fallout RVA, a themed bar and restaurant in Shockoe Bottom. 

"I think today's meeting was a lot more productive than previous meetings that we've had,” said Bishop Wells. “I think that a lot of people came to the table to really bring some solid ideas as well as stuff that the police at the city have been really working over the winter to come up with, some solid ideas.”

She suggested additional police showing up earlier to intervene and direct residents to go home after hanging out at bars or restaurants.

“We are dealing with a very attractive place for people to come and party after hours,” Bishop Wells said. “A lot of people are coming and they're showing up after many of the establishments have closed because maybe there's nowhere else to go.”

Bishop Wells also said she’d like to see rideshares instituted, at both the northern and southern areas of Shockoe Bottom so people can get safely in and out. She also suggested good lighting and proper street maintenance. 

Michael Byrne with the Virginia Restaurant Association said some businesses are not operating within the Virginia ABC guidelines which require businesses to close by 2 a.m. if they have an alcohol license. This can lead to residents bringing their own alcohol and staying out later.

Richmond NAACP Criminal Justice Chair Juan Braxton disagreed, and said things are based on many people's assumptions or what they hear may have happened and don't have any "on the ground" information.

"I have the nightclub owners calling me crying. They're bleeding. They're not making any money,” Braxton said. “They're closing early on Friday nights in the middle of the summer. You have business owners closing at 11:30 p.m. or midnight because they weren't making any money. So, when you had this assumption that ABC needs to come in and do something, do something to who? The businesses that are operating properly are doing what they are supposed to do, but they are the ones suffering.”

Braxton also suggested parking lots can be the source of all the violence going on in Shockoe Bottom.

“[Residents are not given] one ticket, not one citation, nothing. They're never held accountable,” Braxton said.

Newbille said the next meeting to discuss future steps will happen on March 19 at 1 p.m. at Main Street Train Station.