www.kcbs.com

Posted on September 14, 2009

Richmond Responds to Spate of Shootings

RICHMOND, Calif. (KCBS) -- Elected officials and community leaders in Richmond are once again debating how best to respond to gun violence after a rash of shootings over the weekend claimed five lives.

Police have identified four of those victims, including a carjacking suspect killed by a Pinole police officer after a chase on Saturday night.

Levi Boynton was one of three carjacking suspects who fled from Pinole police and got into a shootout when their vehicle crashed near Richmond Parkway on Saturday night. He died and the other two men are now in jail.

Click here for the radio broadcast of this report.

Later that same day, Richmond police found 34-year-old Tamar Anderson suffering from a gunshot wound in the 2800 block of Virginia Avenue. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Friday night, 20-year-old Alfred Thomas of Rodeo and 19-year-old Kaneesha Mallard of Hercules were killed at the 76 gas station at Imperial Avenue and Carlson Boulevard.

No one has been arrested in that case.

One community leader questions whether stepped up more patrol cars and officers on the street will be enough to stem the tide of violence.

“Where is the leadership on this issue of violence in the city of Richmond?” asked the Rev. Andre Schumake, who has officiated at the funerals of many young gunshot victims.

He said police officers are “doing what they can do, but the burden is not all on them.” Schumake said the young people he talks to want to see an end to the violence, but city leaders have not done enough to foster change in Richmond's low-income communities.

Mayor Gayle McLaughlin said the city had been taking steps to reverse what she called "decades of injustice." She cited the job training and life skills training programs offered through Richmond's Office of Neighborhood Safety.

“We’re reaching out to young people,” McLaughlin said. [emphasis added]

Richmond’s homicide toll now stands at 40.

Anyone with information about a homicide can call the Richmond Police Department’s anonymous tip line at 510-232-TIPS (8477).

(jro)