Since November 9,
the date of the shooting, Richmond Police detectives have been investigating
the homicide that occurred on a bus on Hull Street. Detectives are now asking
for the public’s assistance to identify the suspect in the attached photos and
video. The video of the suspect boarding the bus can be found here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/18io4d5pi734b5h/Hull%20Street%20homicide%20suspect.mp4?dl=0
At approximately 11:03 p.m., Tuesday, November 9, Richmond Police responded to the 4000 block of Hull Street for the report of a shooting on a GRTC bus. Officers arrived and located an adult male, Jonathan Contreras, 23, of Richmond, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Contreras was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
During their investigation, detectives determined the victim and the suspect were known to each other. The suspect boarded the bus and recognized the victim sitting across the aisle. They engaged in a confrontation regarding an earlier incident which resulted in a fight and the shooting. A photo of Contreras is attached in an effort to elicit information from those who may have known Contreras or have information about the earlier incident which led to this shooting.
The suspect is an adult male who wore a red hooded sweatshirt under a construction or road safety-type reflective vest. In two of the photos, the suspect is seen in black and white, as the camera system captures low-light images in black and white.
The suspect boarded the bus at the eastbound Midlothian Turnpike stop near Labrook Concourse in the Midlothian section of Richmond. The bus traveled to East Belt Boulevard and stopped near Southside Plaza on Hull Street where the shooting occurred. No one else on the bus was injured. The suspect fled on foot.
Anyone with information about this homicide investigation is asked to call Major Crimes Detective P. Ripley at (804) 646-0423 or contact Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. The P3 Tips Crime Stoppers app for smartphones also may be used. All Crime Stoppers reporting methods are anonymous.
