RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - The teenager found shot in a south Richmond alley has died.
Police found the 16-year-old shooting victim about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday in an alley off the 3600 block of McRand Street, which isn't far from Southside Plaza.
His gunshot wound was considered life threatening. Within the day he was pronounced dead. Police are withholding his name during this stage of the investigation.
Richmond Police have taken one person into custody.
Neighbors said they did hear noises they thought were back-fires from a car.
Sara Taylor described that section of McRand street as peaceful.
"You really don't see the police in the area like that.... this is a very quiet neighborhood,” said Taylor.
Taylor lives and works in the area and thinks police didn’t mention anything for a reason. "I think they did it as a precaution to keep everybody safe and to keep panic down,” said Taylor.
But other neighbors wish police had let them know.
"There's constant kids around here and kids don't have to be subjected to that or shouldn't have to be,” said Melms.
Melms tells CBS 6, officers say they were responding to someone breaking into cars in the 3600 block of McRand street. But Richmond police couldn’t confirm that information.
Last year's crime numbers from McRand street don't reveal any reported calls for shootings. But there were at least two reported car thefts.
Police have not yet released information about the person who was taken into custody, nor the circumstances that led up to the shooting.
The Department is working closely with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office and the public to investigate the circumstances surrounding this fatal shooting.
Anyone with any information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000 or text Crime Stoppers at 274637, using the key word “ITip” followed by your tip. Both methods are anonymous.
