The Times (Richmond, VA)(8/23/1902) (PDF)

This is the 10th killing in the East End this year, the 2nd in the Fulton area (previously), and the 26th for the city of Richmond in 2010.

Anyone with information regarding this homicide is asked to call Detective Jeff Crewell at 201-3829 or Detective Mark Williams at 513-0955. Callers who do not want to be identified may call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.

Richmond police are investigating an overnight murder.

It happened around 2:30 a.m. in the 1300 block of Jennie Scher Road – in the Fulton neighborhood – in the city’s east end.

A police spokesperson said Shamarl O. Whittaker, 22 years old was found dead in his apartment after he was shot. When police arrived, they found Whittaker suffering from gunshot wounds.

It’s still very early in the investigation.

Police currently are following some solid leads at this hour.

Investigators are still there looking for clues and talking to neighbors to get an idea if anyone saw or heard anything overnight.

If you know anything that can help detectives, call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.

Police say someone stole cash and took off with the family’s newest member, a 6-week-old pit bull puppy. It happened in the 1200 block of Garber Street and when news of a stolen pup spread, it didn’t sit well with residents.

Richmond police officers are investigating the armed robbery of a Family Dollar store at 1720 Williamsburg Road. An employee was forced to empty the safe by an unknown male carrying a large handgun about 12:40 p.m. yesterday, Richmond Police Capt. Paul Kiniry said this morning.

This is the first killing in the Fulton area in almost 18 months. There hasn’t been a non-domestic homicide in the area in 2 1/2 years. This is Richmond’s 20th killing of the year and 7th for 2010 in the East End.

During April, the Sector experienced a 32% decrease in Major Crime; an 11% increase in violent crime (9 incidents reported in 2009 compared to 10 in 2010) and a 39% decrease in property crime (59 incidents reported in 2009 compared to 36 in 2010). The 10 violent crimes reported included: 2 Homicides, 4 Aggravated Assaults, 2 Domestic Aggravated Assaults and 2 Commercial Robberies. Of the 10 violent incidents reported 4 have been cleared by arrest, 1 was cleared as a result of the death of the offender and the remaining 5 are still being investigated by detectives. The current trend in Property Crime remains to be thefts related to motor vehicles; however the trend appears to be slowing. This month there were 16 vehicles broken into, 3 vehicles and 3 mopeds stolen.

Throughout the month of April we focused on violent crime and thefts related to vehicles in the Fulton and Union Hill neighborhoods. During this time officers conducted high visibility assignments such as walking, directed patrol and distributing 500 Crime Alert Flyers in those areas. They also conducted undercover assignments in unmarked vehicles and plainclothes, both walking and stationary surveillances. They focused on identifying suspicious individuals in each of the focus areas. We were able to have an encouraging affect on thefts related to motor vehicles; however we have to continue to educate our neighbors about leaving their vehicles unlocked and items left inside. In the Fulton neighborhood a majority of the vehicles were left unlocked when an individual ransacked the cars and in the Union Hill / Shockoe Bottom neighborhoods items of value are still being left in plain site inside the vehicles. During the month of May we will continue to focus on thefts related to motor vehicles and violent crime with high visibility assignments and keeping the residents aware of crime trends as they occur.

Crime Trends for March:
• Church Hill – thefts related to vehicles.
• Chimborazo – thefts related to vehicles.
• Church Hill North – Burglary and thefts from buildings.
• Fulton – Aggravated Assaults.
• Oakwood – theft from vacant properties.
• Union Hill – no current trend.

Sincerely,
Lt. James Laino
First Precinct – Sector 111
2501 Q St.
(O) 646-0572
james.laino@richmondgov.com