Police urge public to share Richmond mass shooting videos

RICHMOND, Va. — Richmond Police are calling on people with video of the fights that led to Saturday morning's mass shooting in Shockoe Bottom to text them to 804-546-7323 or share with the FBI here.

Two people were killed and at least seven others were injured when gunfire erupted near 18th and Main streets around 2:45 a.m. in Richmond's club district.

Police say the shooting began as a verbal argument between two groups of people that turned physical before guns were drawn.

"This was people hanging out on the streets. Two groups of individuals started fighting," Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards said.

Officers confirmed the fight did not start at any business, as all bars in the area were closed at 2 a.m. Police officers typically patrol Shockoe Bottom until 2:30 a.m. Edwards said he is now extending that until 4 a.m. starting this weekend.

The entire shooting lasted 14 seconds, according to Edwards.

"Four officers [were] there within seconds. The entire shooting took 14 seconds, so the first shot and the last shot," Edwards explained. "With under a minute, we had the first officer on scene and people start rendering aid. So really good response, but unfortunately the damage can happen so quickly — within a matter of seconds — when you have multiple shooters."

At the scene, investigators recovered more than 50 shell casings and multiple firearms. Detectives are interviewing witnesses and reviewing footage from area cameras and Flock Safety cameras.

"We have a lot of camera footage from down there. It wasn't a packed night in Shockoe Bottom. Our officers were present, but we weren't anticipating what we saw," Edwards said.

Police identified the two people killed as Genesis Jones, 23, of Petersburg, and Dominic Jackson, 42, of Henrico County. Seven other people were treated at the hospital for their injuries.

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Jones was in Shockoe Bottom to celebrate her brother's birthday when the shooting happened. Her brother, Zekiah, remembered her as someone who brought joy to those around her.

Jackson was a father of two and a soon-to-be grandfather, according to family members.

"I just want people to put the guns down, you know, it makes no sense," Richmond Police Community Officer Farrhard El-Amin said.

Richmond Police met with the FBI, ATF and other law enforcement partners to discuss the latest developments in the case. Those developments have not been shared publicly. Edwards said his goal is to understand what happened in order to provide the strongest case to the Commonwealth's Attorney.

Following the shooting, Richmond Mayor Danny Avula said the city plans to implement a Community Ambassador Program that will send workers to help people get home safely as bars close, rather than just hanging out in the area.

Activists are hosting a peace walk on Friday at 3 p.m. They are asking community members to meet at 18th and Main streets in Shockoe Bottom and walk to City Hall.

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