Victim Identified in Aggravated Assault, Now Homicide Investigation, Suspect Sought

Victim Identified in Aggravated Assault, Now Homicide Investigation, Suspect Sought

Richmond Police detectives are seeking to identify the suspect in an aggravated assault last Saturday which is now a homicide investigation following the death of the victim.

At approximately 2:14 a.m., Saturday, October 12, officers were called to the 2800 block of West Marshall Street for the report of an aggravated assault. Officers arrived and located an adult male, Jacob Baldwin, 26, of Midlothian, down and unresponsive at the intersection of West Marshall and North Sheppard streets with an injury to his head. He was transported to a local hospital with injuries that were considered life threatening. Baldwin succumbed to his injuries yesterday.

The Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death.

Detectives have determined Baldwin was struck by an unknown male at the location following an altercation. The family of Baldwin has provided a photo, attached, to help the public recognize Baldwin and possibly offer information to the circumstances which occurred Friday night and early Saturday morning in the Scott’s Addition neighborhood leading up to the assault.

Anyone with information about this homicide is asked to call Major Crimes Detective A. Sleem at (804) 814-7123 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.

RPD Celebrates 12 New Officers

RPD Celebrates 12 New Officers

 

WHAT:             The Richmond Police Department will graduate members of the 128th Basic Recruit Class to serve as the newest officers of RPD.

 

• Mayor Levar M. Stoney will offer the salutation to the officers
• Chief Rick Edwards will give a charge to the class following family members pinning badges on the new officers.

 

WHEN:              10 a.m., TOMORROW, Friday, October 18, 2024

                          11 a.m. Media availability with officers

 

WHERE:           RPD Training Academy, 1202 W. Graham Road

 

The 128th Basic Recruit Class of the Richmond Police Department is comprised of twelve new officers who bring diverse perspectives and experiences to serve the public. The new officers continue to add to the diversity of the department with roots from Richmond, across the USA and overseas – with many different professional backgrounds.

 

Media availability with new RPD officers:

 

                        Officer Vuthy Ham

• President of the 128th BRC
• Retired Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army
• Originally from Bangkok, Thailand
• Enjoys riding his motorcycle

 

Officer Steven Auman

• Vice President of the 128th BRC
• U.S. Navy Veteran
• From Richmond, Virginia
• Enjoys hunting, fishing, and being outside

 

Officer Kashmir Pretlor

• From Johnstown, Pennsylvania
• Former exotic cars dealer
• Enjoys spending time with his family and cooking and grilling

 

Identification Made in Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting on East Broad Street

Identification Made in Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting on East Broad Street

Richmond Police detectives have identified the individual in the fatal officer-involved shooting yesterday as Kyle Harris, 36, of Richmond.

Last night at approximately 7:23 p.m., an armed mental party call was dispatched by the Department of Emergency Communications regarding an adult white male who had threatened a person with a knife in the 2900 block of East Broad Street.

Officers arrived and located the building where the subject, Harris, was located. A family member allowed officers into the building and officers began communicating to Harris and a female who were inside an interior room in the apartment. Officers attempted to de-escalate the situation for several minutes and have Harris and the female leave the room but they did not exit. Officers then heard a scream in the room. Officers, fearing for the safety of the occupant(s), made entry. An officer encountered Harris inside and fired his service weapon, striking Harris.

Life saving measures were provided to Harris by officers at the scene. He was transported to a local hospital where early this morning he succumbed to his injury.

An edged weapon was recovered at the scene. The female and the officers were not injured.

This incident is under investigation and, as with all officer-involved shootings, the department is conducting a thorough investigation of the circumstances. RPD policy is to release the name of the officer following investigation protocols to include a threat assessment.

Following fatal officer-involved shootings, the Richmond Police Department produces a Critical Incident Briefing video which will be released to the public. These videos feature video and audio from the investigation, which can include officer body-worn camera video(s), 911 recordings, photos from the scene and other materials.

“Transparency is crucial to maintaining trust with the public,” said Chief Rick Edwards. “The RPD investigates these incidents and produces Critical Incident Briefing videos within two weeks of the incident, when possible, to share with the public the details as we currently understand them.”

Anyone with further information about this incident is asked to call Major Crimes Detective M. Young at (804) 646-3926 or 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.

Officer-Involved Shooting on East Broad Street

Officer-Involved Shooting on East Broad Street

This evening at approximately 7:23 p.m., officers were called to the 2900 block of East Broad Street for the report of an armed mental party who had threatened someone with a knife. Officers arrived and made contact with the adult male who was in an apartment. Officers attempted to have the man leave the structure but he refused. Officers heard a woman shouting in the apartment and asked her to leave the apartment. She responded she could not leave. After further shouting, officers, fearing for her safety, entered the unlocked apartment. There, an RPD officer fired his service weapon, striking the suspect.

Life saving measures were provided by officers and the man was transported to a local hospital with an injury that is considered life threatening.

An edged weapon was recovered at the scene.

The female and the officers were not injured.

Major Crimes detectives, Command Staff, First Precinct officers, and the Forensics unit responded to the scene. As is standard in officer-involved shooting investigations, the officer will be placed on administrative leave. More information will be available as the investigation continues 

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Major Crimes Detective M. Young at (804) 646-3926 or 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.

Chief Rick Edwards to Discuss Results of Operation Safe Summer

Chief Rick Edwards to Discuss Results of Operation Safe Summer

 

WHAT:            Chief Rick Edwards will share the results of Operation Safe Summer, the public safety initiative that began early on April 19 as a result of incidents of violent crime and ended on September 6.

 

Chief Edwards requested the involvement of multiple law enforcement agencies throughout the spring and summer months to deter violent crime in the city of Richmond. Representatives from the partner law enforcement agencies will be present at the briefing.

 

Chief Edwards will also update the public on year-to-date crime stats as the third quarter has come to a close. A recorded version of the briefing will be made available online at rva.gov/police.

 

Media is invited to attend.

 

WHEN:          2:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 2, 2024

 

WHERE:        1202 W. Graham Road

Richmond Police Training Academy 

 

CONTACT:  James Mercante, RPD Office of Public Affairs

(804) 363-9107

Ruffin Road Homicide, Aggravated Assault

Ruffin Road Homicide, Aggravated Assault

 

Last night at approximately 9:54 p.m., officers were called to an apartment complex in the 2200 block of Ruffin Road for the report of a shooting. Officers arrived and found an adult male down and unresponsive in a parking lot. He had suffered an apparent gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital where last night he succumbed to his injury. Detectives have identified him as Malcolm Coleman, 29, of Richmond.

 

The Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death.

 

Detectives were notified that at approximately the same time an adult male was transported by personal vehicle to a local hospital. He had suffered a gunshot wound that was not considered life threatening. Detectives have determined he was injured during the same shooting incident at the Ruffin Road apartment complex.

 

There were reports of many people present at the location of the shootings. Investigators are asking for persons with knowledge of the circumstances to provide information to detectives.

 

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Major Crimes Detective C. Tovar at (804) 646-6739 or call 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.

 

Grace Period Ending for Safety Cameras, Errors in Citations Corrected

Grace Period Ending for Safety Cameras, Errors in Citations Corrected

The Richmond Police Department reminds motorists that the grace period for speeding violations at the newest Safety Camera locations ends October 1. Violations at these locations on or after October 1 will result in a citation.

Please note several incorrect citations have been issued by the program vendor instead of warnings. The automatic system of identifying speeding violators in front of schools at student arrival and dismissal times was designed to send warnings to the registered owners of the vehicles during the grace period.

The vendor has begun sending letters notifying those who were issued violations instead of warnings at the new camera locations. Those violations have been voided and no payment is required. For those who have already paid the erroneous fines – refunds will be issued.

The two pilot locations at Linwood Holton Elementary (West Laburnum Avenue and Hermitage Road) and Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts (Semmes Avenue) have been in operation since March of this year and are continuing to issue valid violations.

The RPD, in conjunction with the city’s Vision Zero Task Force, under the umbrella of the Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW), and with the support of the Safe and Healthy Streets Commission, the Richmond City Council, and Mayor Levar M. Stoney, have deployed safety cameras at Richmond schools at nine new locations.