Category Archives: crime

City of Richmond to Celebrate New 911 Dispatchers at 50th Basic Dispatch Academy Graduation At Virginia War Memorial Tomorrow

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Given the E. Grace Street shooting today, this is timely… At the Virginia War Memorial tomorrow…

From City press release:

City of Richmond to Celebrate New 911 Dispatchers at 50th Basic Dispatch Academy Graduation
What: The Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response (DECPR) will celebrate a major milestone this week with the graduation of its 50th Basic Dispatch Academy Class. The ceremony will honor the city’s newest group of Emergency Communications Officers who have successfully completed months of rigorous training.
Richmond’s Emergency Communications Center is the second-busiest public safety answering point in Virginia, handling more than 450,000 calls for service annually. As crucial members of first response teams, these graduates are ready to start their careers and provide a human lifeline to residents, visitors, and first responders in the field twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Who:
Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Al Wiggins Jr.
Director of the Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response Stephen Willoughby
DECPR Staff, graduates, and families.
When: Friday, October 30th, 2026 at 11:00 AM (Media please arrive between 10:30-10:50 AM to set up)
Where: Virginia War Memorial – Veterans Hall, 621 S. Belvidere St, Richmond, VA 23220

Oregon Hill Murder Still Unresolved; Alleged Shooter Still Not In Custody

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At last night’s Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) meeting, neighbors listened carefully to a presentation by a representative of the Richmond Police.

When he was asked about the June 30th shooting and murder on the 100 block of S.Pine Street, he said it was not in his report because the 100 block of S. Pine is not part of Oregon Hill. Thankfully, neighbors, including the OHNA President, quickly corrected him.

Oregon Hill residents are tired of this continued nonsense.
The ‘Heights’ are ours!

MESSAGE TO CITY AND VCU OFFICIALS (ESPECIALLY CITY PLANNERS WITH CODE REFRESH): To say that the 100 blocks north of the Expressway are not part part of Oregon Hill is ‘fighting words’ – considered not acceptable and will be fully rebuked. If this keeps up, then some sort of retaliation may be in order to make the message stick. Code Refresh is already dead in the water due to the misrepresentation and distrust.

It’s one thing for the Richmond and VCU police to not count all the underage drinking in their crime stats for the neighborhood. It is another to not include violent crime. We are very aware of increased crime due to our proximity to the university.

Furthermore, and it should not be lost in this, the main suspect in the murder is still on the run, as far as citizens know.

From previous Richmond Police Department press release:

Richmond Police Department detectives are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a wanted subject related to last night’s homicide on South Pine Street.

John Pettaway IV, 26, of Chesterfield County, has a warrant on file for Discharging a Firearm in an Occupied Dwelling. He is wanted in relation to the fatal shooting of Charlamon Stokes, 23, of Richmond, in the 100 block of South Pine Street last night.

Pettaway is approximately 5’9” tall and weighs approximately 155 pounds. His photo is attached. Pettaway should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 911.

Anyone with information about this homicide investigation is asked to call Major Crimes Detective M. Godwin at (804) 317-6922 or call Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. The P3 Tips Crime Stoppers app for smartphones may also be used. All Crime Stoppers reporting methods are anonymous.

Police Report: Wanted Subject Sought in Relation to South Pine Street Homicide Investigation

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From Richmond Police Department press release:

Richmond Police Department detectives are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a wanted subject related to last night’s homicide on South Pine Street.

John Pettaway IV, 26, of Chesterfield County, has a warrant on file for Discharging a Firearm in an Occupied Dwelling. He is wanted in relation to the fatal shooting of Charlamon Stokes, 23, of Richmond, in the 100 block of South Pine Street last night.

Pettaway is approximately 5’9” tall and weighs approximately 155 pounds. His photo is attached. Pettaway should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 911.

Anyone with information about this homicide investigation is asked to call Major Crimes Detective M. Godwin at (804) 317-6922 or call Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. The P3 Tips Crime Stoppers app for smartphones may also be used. All Crime Stoppers reporting methods are anonymous.

Man Killed in Shooting Inside Home On 100 Block Of S. Pine Street

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Multiple news outlets are reporting that a homicide investigation is under way after a man was reported shot and killed inside a home on the 100 bock of South Pine Street around 10 pm last night.

WRIC mentioned that “a suspect in this shooting was last seen running southbound on S. Pine Street”, but no description or further details were available.

Another Accident at Idlewood and S. Cherry Street

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From Cherry Street neighbor Todd Woodson:

Shortly before 5pm on Sunday, March 8, 2026, there was another accident at Idlewood Ave and S Cherry St. You may recall there was a accident on September 27, 2025 at the same intersection. In trying to get the accident report on the September crash, I was told that even though RPD was the only responding department, they had no record of the event and to try vcupd (who were not present at the scene). Vcu provided the record for that accident.
The RVA website lists sector 413 sector lieutenant as William Brereton. I emailed for the report but I’m not sure if he is still active sector lieutenant.
This intersection is the site for chronic traffic accidents. It is also the site of St Andrews School and Sprout Daycare Center. We have been trying to get traffic calming measures on Idlewood at this location for over twelve years with no success.
Can someone assist me in procuring the accident report for March 8,2026, please?
If RPD isn’t keeping accident records in general for Oregon Hill, then I’m wondering how we can effectively reduce traffic accidents and pedestrian deaths in downtown Richmond. There’s a disconnect here.
I pray for the safety of these wonderful students.

Sincerely,

Charles Woodson

In regard to the September 27, 2025 incident, there is this previous post:
https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/09/27/hit-run-at-idlewood-and-s-cherry-street/

Hit & Run at Idlewood and S. Cherry Street

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From eyewitness:

At 12:43am on Saturday morning, September 27, I heard a loud crash. Came outside and saw a young man on a scooter had been the victim of a hit and run crossing Idlewood on Cherry.
911 rang for 4 minutes before picking up to answer. Cars were flying down Idlewood, almost hitting the downed scooter rider. A civilian car blocked traffic so the victim couldn’t be hit again.

It’s worth noting that the neighborhood association has been asking for about a decade for the same type of traffic calming measures (signs, speed bumps/tables) that are seen on VCU’s campus and other neighborhoods in the City.