People in an East Bay neighborhood are angry, confused, and asking why someone would want to shoot three men training for a program that helps the community. The shooting happened on South 28th Street at Virginia Avenue in Richmond. One man is dead and his father and brother were injured.
"Richmond Build" is a community-based program all about reducing violence in the neighborhood. On Tuesday, three men who were attending an orientation for that program and performing an agility test were shot. One of those men was killed at the scene. Now, police are working to find those responsible.
Just after 11 a.m., Richmond police say they received several 9-1-1 calls and a notification from ShotSpotter about gunfire in the 300 block of South 28th Street. Responding officers found three men had been shot -- one killed by the bullets that hit him and two others lying wounded on the ground.
Witnesses reported seeing a single male step out of a white SUV and fire several shots before jumping back in the car and speeding away. "There was a white SUV-type vehicle seen leaving the area at a high rate of speed. Information was provided in regards to a possible license plate of that car," said Det. Nicole Abetkov with the Richmond Police Department. Detectives would soon find that suspect vehicle a few blocks away and learn that it had been reported stolen earlier from Oakland.
"This was the last day of the agility test. That was going on today. That's why they were running around," said Richmond resident Antwon Cloird. The three men injured were all attending an orientation program at Richmond Build. The community-based program helps give individuals with a challenged background a set of skills they can use to re-enter the workforce. "I see them jog every day. Why this happened today is another big question," said Richmond resident Craig Allums.
Police have not identified a suspect or a motive for the shooting and are calling this an active investigation.
