RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – The Richmond Police Department has upped its presence in Shockoe Bottom after seeing repeated issues in the area. However, Chief Rick Edwards still has concerns, as it is a heavily populated area each weekend.
The city is now exploring other measures to bring down gun violence in the area.
“The reason Shockoe Bottom is a concern, and also other pop-up parties are a concern, is for the possibility of mass shootings,” Chief Edwards said.
Shockoe Bottom is seen as a safe place to work and walk around in the daytime.
“I feel safe. I know that Shockoe Bottom seems to transform as the evening hours approach. It’s very different down here at night. There’s a lot more people down here, just a different vibe than there is during the daytime,” Justin Doyle, who works in the area, said.
Edwards says the combination of people and alcohol, with the possibility of firearms, is what makes it problematic at times.
Back in May, a DPW employee was caught in crossfire in Shockoe while on the job and ended up in the hospital.
Edwards mentioned another incident where a group got into an argument in April, left the area, and then returned with a gun.
He says it could have ended much worse, and he’s trying to prevent such situations.
“So many of the folks we’re encountering are not criminals. They don’t have a criminal history. They just think it’s a cool thing to do to bring my gun to the city,” Chief Edwards said. “And before they know it, they’re in a fight and they’re using one of those weapons.”
The city has to balance having the area lively and good for business with keeping it safe.
“We want you to come to our city, we want you to enjoy the great restaurants we have and the nightlife, but leave your guns at home, and we’ll provide the security,” Chief Edwards said.
Councilmember Sarah Abubaker asked about the possibility of having Shockoe as an entertainment district with a ‘no gun zone.’
Chief Edwards says it’s something that’s come up in recent conversations.
“Mayor Avula just was texting me today about the possibility of trying to do something like in Times Square, New York, Times Square, it’s illegal to possess a firearm even for those who have concealed weapons permits,” Chief Edwards said. “Even if it’s during timeframes, obviously, more folks are moving to Shockoe Bottom to live, and we can make accommodations for anyone who lives there, but folks who are coming to visit and spend time in that district, I think we would benefit from having that extra tool in our toolbox.”
Councilmember Stephanie Lynch says it has been discussed before, but there have been difficulties surrounding its legality.
Chief Edwards says it has worked with parks, though the city owns the land. The following steps would involve conversations with the City Attorney’s office to determine whether the zones could be possible on specific dates or, if not, all the time.
“Either way, it would be very helpful if you all come back next month or something and say, this is the direction we want to go and that way we can get it underway,” Lynch said.
Edwards also shared an update on the overall crime rate in the city. His data had property crime numbers from July, which showed property crime is down across the city.
His numbers for violent crime were as of Sept. 22, and most categories looked suitable for Richmond. However, the overall violent crime data point is up 3%, which is due to a 87% jump in aggravated assault/domestic incidents.
The Chief explained this is a bit of an outlier, as his team just changed how those crimes are reported, so on paper, it looks higher than what is actually happening.
“Nothing has changed. It’s our reporting structure, but again, that’s accounting for some of the violent crime increase. It is significant, but when we review them line by line, it is that new direction we’re giving to our officers to report it as such,” he said.
RPD’s latest data also shows a decrease in the number of guns stolen in the city. In 2025, the total is 360, though it was 410 last year. Chief Edwards showed a map with Shockoe Bottom as the center of that problem in the past.
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