April 18,
2018
The homicide of
teenagers, Taliek K. Brown, 15, of the 400 block of East Brookland Park
Boulevard and Mikkaisha D. Smoot, 16, of the 2100 block of Deforrest Street,
in the Mosby neighborhood shook the Richmond community. A year later,
police are still seeking information to find justice for their families and
bring this case to a close.
At
approximately 1:21 a.m., officers were called to the 1900 block of Accommodation
Street for a report of random gunfire. Officers arrived and found Brown and
Smoot suffering from gunshot wounds. An adult female was also found with an
apparent gunshot wound that was not considered life threatening. The two
juveniles were transported to a local hospital where they later succumbed to
their injuries.
Soon after the
tragic murder of the two teenagers, Chief Alfred Durham released the
following statement:
“Two of
Richmond’s teenagers were struck down, and a third person was injured, during
an early morning shooting today – and in any incident where children are
involved, it is especially critical to us to provide closure to the families,” said
Chief Durham. “The Department is working to not only solve this and every
case of violent crime in our neighborhoods but we are working diligently on
many fronts to reduce the violence before it happens. We have patrol officers,
Focus Mission Team units and the Intervention and Prevention units working
around the clock to prevent crime – but we need the public to come forward and
provide information before violence breaks out.”
Anyone with
information is asked to call Major Crimes Det. K. Hughes at (804)
646-3917 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000 or at www.7801000.com or submit a tip online at www.7801000.com. . The P3 Tips Crime Stoppers
app for smart phones may also be used. All three Crime Stoppers methods of
contact are anonymous.
