Richmond shootings spike in East End, First Precinct
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Richmond was one of a handful of major U.S. cities that saw the number of homicides increase in the first half of the year, according to a new report from the Council on Criminal Justice.
The big picture: The tragic shootings of a 12-year-old girl Tuesday morning and a local actor out walking his dog over the weekend have put renewed attention on gun violence in Richmond.
State of play: The nonpartisan CCJ found that homicides were down an average of 17% nationwide year over year for the first half of 2025.
- Richmond, however, was among just five of the 42 major U.S. cities the CCJ reviews that saw a year-over-year increase in homicides for the first half of the year.
By the numbers: Homicides in Richmond were up 16% midyear, per the CCJ — the fourth-largest increase among the cities it studies.
- The Richmond Police Department — which released its own midyear briefing last month — put the increase at 14%, with 32 killings as of the end of June, up from 28 in the first half of 2024.
- Since then, homicides have ticked up even more. As of Sunday, there had been 34 homicides recorded in Richmond this year, according to RPD's crime stats.
- 91% of those homicides were committed with guns.
The latest: A 12-year-old girl is still fighting for her life in a local hospital after being shot early Tuesday morning in the East End, according to RPD.
- A 15-year-old boy related to the girl has been charged with reckless handling of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a minor in what detectives are investigating as a possible accidental shooting.
Meanwhile, funeral arrangements are in progress for local actor Adam Turck, who remains hospitalized and critically injured after being shot when he tried to intervene in a domestic dispute while walking his dog Saturday morning in Shockoe Bottom.
- "Adam will be 35 years old when he passes in the next few days, after donating his organs to help save the lives of others. That's what heroes do — they save the lives of others," his family said in a statement.
Zoom in: Both shootings took place within Richmond's First Police Precinct, which includes Church Hill, the East End, the Shockoes and Manchester.
- That is also where nearly half — 16 — of the 34 homicides in Richmond this year took place.
What they're saying: "Firearms in the hands of young people is a recipe for tragedy, pain and loss," RPD chief Rick Edwards said in a statement after the most recent shooting.
- "I urge everyone with a firearm to secure it properly — and take whatever steps necessary to ensure our young people do not have access to firearms."
RPD offers free gun safes to Richmonders; just call 804-516-0451 to request one.