West Brookland Park Boulevard Death Investigation

At approximately 2:32 a.m., Richmond Police officers were called to the 200 block of West Brookland Park Boulevard for the report of random gunfire. Officers arrived and found an adult male in a parked vehicle unresponsive with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Medical Examiner will determine cause and manner of death.

Anyone with information about this death investigation is asked to call Major Crimes Detective B. Neifeld at (804) 646-0057 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.

Minefee Street Shooting Investigation

This morning at approximately 4:41 a.m., Richmond Police officers were called to the 1400 block of Minefee Street for the report of shots fired into a dwelling. Officers arrived and located two adult females suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Both were transported to a local hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening.

Detectives are investigating.

Anyone with information about this shooting incident is asked to call Major Crimes Detective S. Donald at (804) 646-6456 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.

Victim Identified in Fairfield Avenue Homicide

Richmond Police detectives have identified the victim in this morning’s homicide as Kavon Howard, 44, of Richmond.

At approximately 1:06 a.m., this morning, Richmond Police officers were called to the 2800 block of Fairfield Avenue for the report of a person shot. Officers arrived and found an adult male, Howard, with an apparent gunshot wound who was pronounced dead on scene. An eight month old infant also suffered a gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.  Her injuries are now considered non-life threatening.

Anyone with information about this homicide is asked to call Major Crimes Detective Mansfield (804) 646-6996 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.

Family Dollar Incident on Westover Hills

On Monday afternoon, March 7, at approximately 1:30 p.m., a Richmond Police officer responded to a call received by the Department of Emergency Communication (DEC) from the management of the Family Dollar store in the 1200 block of Westover Hills Boulevard, in reference to an adult female customer suspected of shoplifting.

The suspect was 33 year old Alecia Nelson and she is seen in the partial video circulating on social media. The officer identified next to Ms. Nelson is RPD Officer, Graham Lang of 21 years.

Officer Lang arrived and was alerted by management that the larceny suspect was at the point of sale. Officer Lang attempted to conduct a lawful detention of Ms. Nelson by giving verbal commands regarding the need to detain her for further investigation.

The suspect refused to cooperate with the officer’s lawful command to which she verbally and physically resisted.

In response to her noncompliance and physical resistance, the officer used force to gain compliance and that force is presently being investigated to include video footage that precedes the video being circulated on social media at this time.

The lawful detention would have included temporary detainment and questioning to determine facts surrounding the truth of the allegation.

During the resistance, Officer Lang called for backup assistance in taking Ms. Nelson into custody. As a result she was charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer.

RPD is asking for the communities’ assistance with the internal investigation by calling (804) 646-0400 as well as the criminal investigation by calling (804) 646-6733 with any additional information.

Officer Lang is cooperating with the internal investigation and remains on duty.

Fairfield Avenue Death Investigation

At approximately 1:06 a.m., this morning, Richmond Police officers were called to the 2800 block of Fairfield Avenue for the report of a person shot. Officers arrived and found an adult male with an apparent gunshot wound who was pronounced dead on scene. An eight month old infant also suffered a gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

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

Anyone with information about this death investigation is asked to call Major Crimes Detective Mansfield (894) 646-6996 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.

Victims Identified in North 20th Street Death Investigation

Richmond Police detectives have identified the victims in Sunday night’s death investigation as Shemar Howlett, 21, of North Chesterfield and Isaiah James, 19, of Petersburg.

At approximately 10:12 p.m., March 6, Richmond Police officers were called to the 1100 block of North 20th Street for the report of shots fired. Officers arrived and found one adult male, Howlett, deceased, with an apparent gunshot wound.

Nearby, at Mosby and Littlepage streets, another adult male, James, was found deceased with a gunshot wound. Both incidents are believed to be related.

The Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death of both adult male victims.

Anyone with information about this death investigation is asked to call Major Crimes Detective A. Sleem (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.

Officer-Involved Shooting Update – Garber Street

The Richmond Police Department has identified the person who died in Sunday night’s officer-involved shooting.  He is Lester Carlton Epps, 58, of Henrico, VA.

At approximately 10:43 p.m. Sunday, Richmond Police officers responded to the call of an unknown armed individual at a residence in the 1200 block of Garber Street. Police officers arrived on scene and located an adult male, Epps, with a firearm.

Officers commanded Epps to drop the firearm. Due to aggressive actions towards the officers by Epps, officers fired their weapons in response and struck him.

Epps was taken to a local hospital and later succumbed to his injuries.

The RPD officers who were involved in this incident are:

• Officer Richard Redford, 11 years with the RPD
• Officer Shannon McGarva, 5 years with the RPD

As with all officer-involved shooting incidents, the department is conducting a thorough investigation of the incident. 

This investigation is ongoing and more information will be released at the appropriate time.

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