’We need more help’: Richmond police seek answers in 5 shootings that killed 2, injured 4

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Richmond police are asking the public for help after five shootings occurred within the span of seven hours from Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning. The shootings killed two people, including a teenager and injured four others, including two young children.

“The 3-year-old baby and 6-year-old baby were just going about and doing what kids do,” Richmond Police Chief Gerald Smith said.

A violent night Tuesday that left two people dead and four others recovering from gunshot wounds.

“If anyone in this community is not outraged at a 3-year-old and 6-year-old going about their lives and ended up getting shot for no reason then you need to check your heart. There’s something wrong with that,” Chief Smith said.

The violent night started just before 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Shaquita Mitchell, 31, was sitting on her front porch on Lamb Avenue when she was shot several times. Family members said Mitchell stumbled into the home asking for help.

She later died at the hospital.

Mitchell was a mother of seven children ranging from 13-years-old to 5-year-old triplets.

Police believe this was a drive-by incident involving a white SUV. Broken glass could still be found in the street and several holes where the bullets entered the home.

The second deadly shooting happened on North 31st Street. This is where 15-year-old Daevion Austin was shot and killed, and a 3-year-old girl was inside her home asleep when she was hit by the gun violence. She’s expected to be OK.

The 5th and final shooting sent a 6-year-old girl to the hospital. It happened at a home on Summer Hill Avenue early Wednesday morning.

The grandmother of the child said there was a knock at the door and moments later there were gunshots. The family said the 6-year-old is up walking and doing OK.

Timeline of All Five Shootings:

• The first shooting happened around 6:20 p.m. Tuesday in the 3000 block of Lamb Avenue. A 31-year-old woman was shot in the leg and abdomen while sitting on her porch. She was transported to a local hospital where she later died.
• Police then responded to a shooting in the 2100 block of North 29th Street around 10:50 p.m. One woman was shot in the leg, according to police. Her injury was not life-threatening.
• Just 10 minutes later, officers were called to a shooting in the 900 block of North 31st Street. A 15-year-old boy was found shot to death. Police on the scene discovered a second victim in the 3000 block of O Street, a 3-year-old girl, with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. She was transported to a local hospital.
• Two hours later, just before 1 a.m., a man walked into the Community Hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the back. No crime scene was located and police say the victim was uncooperative.
• During the last shooting, which happened around 1:45 a.m., a family heard several pops near the 2400 block of Summer Hill Avenue. The shooting left a 6-year-old girl injured.

“It is painful. There’s no way you can wake up and not feel pain after receiving the call for the loss of young lives in our community but that’s the motivation to action,” City Council President Cynthia Newbille said.

City leaders came together Wednesday, not just to hear what happened, but to urge anyone with information to come forward.

“These are our neighbors and extended families. These are friends and it’s critical you come forward and say that’s not acceptable here,” Newbille said.

When the department expressed concern over the recent string of violence, they said homicides in the city are down 10 percent and overall violent crime is down by 22 percent.

Detectives continue to investigate the recent shootings and are actively looking for information from the community. If you know something, call Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.

Police are also releasing the names of detectives working the case. Officials urge anyone with information to come forward.

• Homicide – 3026 Lamb Avenue – Det. P. Ripley (646-0423)
• Aggravated Assault (Shooting) – 2100 block North 29th Street – Det. A. Davila (646-6739)
• Homicide/Aggravated Assault (Shooting) – 3000 block P Street – Det. B. Neifeld (646-3246)
• Aggravated Assault (Shooting) – 1500 North 28th Street (walk-in at Richmond Community Hospital) – Det. K. Hyde (646-3613)
• Aggravated Assault (Shooting) – 2404 Summer Hill Avenue – Det. A. Sleem (646-3871)

Copyright 2020 WWBT. All rights reserved.

Submit a news tip.