January 12, 2010
Bullets in the Streets
15 Comments »This evening around 5:00 pm (Monday 01/11/10), witnesses described a running gun battle starting in the alley between National and Carlisle. Two adolescent males were seen ducking behind a fence, planning their shot, then one lifted a gun and started shooting at four youths dressed in black walking toward Government Rd on National St. Several of the youths in black pulled guns and gave chase up the alley to the youths in white. A few minutes later the youths in black were seen at the parking lot of the Hamidi Mart being picked up by a large dark colored sedan which drove off down Government. At approx 5:10pm the first police arrived on scene and began driving the surrounding streets. Ten to fifteen shots were fired in total. Police have recovered several casings of .22 calibre and 9mm. Electrical contractors were called to repair a power line on Montgomery St. where they recovered a 9mm copper slug that shorted the line and left people in the blocks nearby without power for about an hour.
WTH? Does anyone have any more info?
I looked on the news but nothing so far…
I’m a reporter with channel 8 and we may do a story about this. Did anybody see or hear anything while this was happening?
Spacecat, can you please call me at 356.3353?
Thanks,
Nate Eaton
8News
You know so much of the bullets that fly in our area is not reported on. I remember during the Summer a kid was shot in the neck right bellow Montrose Heights at Woodcroft Apartments and we never heard anything more about it. It was only later a cop I was talking to who worked the case said they never caught the kids.
A lot of the crime events that occur around here may get reported to the police, but the general populace doesn’t get much detailed information. The Fulton News site may be a good way to document the events and get it out there for our neighbors to read. I for one, from now on, will be reporting on as many of the events that I hear about or witness. Photos would also be good and detailed documentation (dates, times, locations, etc.)is the only way it’s ever gonna stop. The police can only do so much. If we want our neighborhood safe, then it’s up to us to make it that way.
BTW,
An officer I spoke to last night stated that there had been a report of somebody with a gun at the Powhatan Community center before 5pm. He indicated that that report and the subsequent shots fired around Salem/Carlisle/National/Montgomery streets may have been related. He and another officer also suggested that the two groups of youths were both from Fulton and had some kind of ongoing problems with each other. None of that is particularly detailed, but it offers some context for last nights shots.
My friend said that they called the cops when they saw this and the cops took 20 minutes to get there then basically told them that they’re not going to do anything about it, and they shouldn’t report stuff because it could put them at risk! Wtf?! I’m so upset about this situation.
I’ve tried to be a good neighbor and report gun shots, etc. to the non-emergency line (and I know others do too) but if the cops aren’t willing to do their part for this area, what are we supposed to do?!
I had a kid try to push his way in my house right before Christmas. I called the Police and they were at my house in 2 minutes. I posted the report on here right after it happened. I urge people to post anything that happens on the site or email me at vmallonee@comcast.net so that I can.
Thanks to all of you for speaking up.
I spoke Nate Eaton (post #3, above) He said that Channel 8 decided to go with another story this evening, so we won’t be seeing the story on the news. But tell as many of your neighbors as you can. Maybe they know something that could lead to the apprehension of the people involved.
Our family has been dialing 911 here in Fulton since 2001. Neighbors and family have tried to discourage us, saying we are putting ourselves at risk. We’ve decided our lives are already at risk and we will not let fear keep us from living our lives and we won’t let hoodlums dictate our decisions.
Thankfully, we were not home for the flying bullets.Every time we have to talk to our children about getting down and hiding from gunshots is a difficult time. Fortunately, our streets have been quieter during the last few years with a few exceptions.
And yes, there have been several police officers over the years who have uttered discouraging and inappropriate remarks about our neighborhood.
One officer suggested that the only way to make our block safer was to bomb a certain house. I think he thought he was being amusing. Another officer once said he we shouldn’t bother pursuing charges on a young person who broke into a house, stole items and killed a dog because he was too young to prosecute.
This kind of policing reminds me that they aren’t here to protect and serve but rather to enforce the laws they want to or are commanded to enforce by those who hold power. Right now, we, the residents of Fulton, don’t hold the power they respect and we must protect ourselves.
Thanks Spacecat.
I have called the police on several occasions and they have always been timely, polite, and professional. If you have different experiences with the police, please let the Civic Association know. The Civic Association has a good relationship with the police and can discuss the residents’ concerns with the police.
The next Civic Association meeting is on Tuesday February 9th at 7pm at the Neighborhood Resource Center on Williamsburg and Salem. Everyone is invited to attend. There are no fees or dues. There is always a representative of the police department at the meeting who is there to listen to residents’ concerns and answer questions.
There is also an active Neighborhood Watch in Fulton, and they are at each Civic Association meeting as well.
To contact the Civic Association, please email fultoncivic@gmail.com.
Spacecat,
My phone erased your number. Can you please call me again? We may be running the story tonight about the gun battle/gunshots in your neighborhood.
Thanks,
Nate Eaton
804.356.3353
To find information on Greater Fulton Hill Neighborhood Watch click on “Resources” at the top of this home page.
Hey friends, I live in Blacksburg but my VCU daughter survived a violent crime in Richmond almost 2 years ago. I’m doing a community dialogue theater piece on the event and all the discussion it provoked, to try and bring understanding to matters of crime, violence, history, discrimination, trauma, youth, drugs and guns. I also want to include all the vitality of Richmond community life. I need some friendly collaborators from the Richmond area to help out. I want a better world. Anyone interested please contact me. Lmobrientribe@yahoo.com