Shockoe assault caught on video
The Richmond Police Department needs the public’s help identifying and locating the persons responsible for a robbery/assault in Shockoe Bottom.
The incident occurred around 1 a.m. Friday, Jan. 21, in the 1700 block of East Cary Street.
A video on YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDbuke4dSzE – shows a male being attacked by several other males. The victim’s wallet was taken during the struggle.
Anyone with information about the attack or the video posted on YouTube 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.
And this is why I got my concealed handgun permit.
The video has been taken down off YouTube but before that happened a copy was saved (in 1080p!) and sent to the police.
wric8 has clips of the video: http://www.wric.com/global/Category.asp?c=190525&clipId=5508005&autostart=true
Fortunately, I saved a copy of the video and have reposted it in an attempt to identify the assailants:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBzCKGp3UNU
I also downloaded the video. This morning I found the video poster’s Twitter account and shared it with @RichmondPolice – it’s been shut down.
Did this clown really think he could post a video of his friends committing a Class 3 felony and nobody would do anything about it? He’s basically dared the cops to find him, which isn’t terribly smart. Here’s what the guy who posted the video looks like: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=112048328839647&set=a.144705525573927.26535.106177752760038
This will be the most widespread Richmond news story since the ibook sale. yay.
Reddit is on it:
http://www.reddit.com/r/WTF/comments/fa8dv/i_got_jumped_walking_between_bars_and_the_people/
the sad thing is, no punishment that follows will serve as a deterrent–if Mark Kleiman is right, we needed to catch all of the assailants 5 days ago and both decided on, and carried out, a penalty just as quickly. Now there will be a temporally disconnected discovery and trial process, the camera man will be bagged, every one else with responsibility will, via the ‘no snitchin’ system walk free and a beatdown will seem like a viable course of action for any ‘oppressed’ person with a racial axe to grind and a few drinks in them.
I hope the victim is not injured seriously. From the looks of the video, it looks like it could have been pretty bad. Hope he’s better soon!
@Helman – It’s not getting much coverage thus far, maybe because it doesn’t fit the media narrative.
I’m completely outraged by this. Once these scum bags are found, RPD and the courts need to send a message to these cowards. The day these wussies are brought to justice can’t happen soon enough.
Richmond Ghetto Ass Thugs. Typical. Shockoe Bottom is a shit hole where this type of thing is unfortunately commonplace after midnight. Don’t give me any racist shit either. It’s fact. Watch the video. Pisses me off.
Great. And I’m supposed to be moving to Richmond with my girlfriend in a couple of weeks. Is this what we have to look forward to? Isn’t that the “nice area” the bar district or River District-mega loft area? Thoses animals were swinging to kill, and guess what, they will never be caught. Wonderful.
Whoever told you shockoe bottom is the “nice area” was misinformed. Cheer up though. Richmond as a whole is a great place. Just stay away from the bottom late night.
Don’t be discouraged Skydiver….we’re outraged here because this behavior isn’t really very typical. Like JonWacko said, just stay outta the bottom after midnight and you’ll be fine…..Walk up the hill to Poes or Honeys or Azzias or Sette and enjoy. Welcome to Richmond!
Skydiver, my husband and I have lived here for about 6 years – two years in Tobacco Row and about 4 years in Church Hill. We love living here but yes, we do not frequent the Bottom late at night. As the previous poster said, though, there are lots of fun places to go and eat or have a drink that are not in the Bottom. Welcome to Richmond!!!
The area this all happened was in an area that is not well lit and in a blind spot across from Bottoms Up Pizza. That is not all of Shockoe Bottom but like anywhere else there are places you need to be aware of. Having lived there and still go out to the area it is realtively safe area.
I *REALLY* want this to stay at the forefront until these scumbags are arrested. The two victims are decent human beings with out a racist bone in their bodies. This crime was committed solely for the purpose of filming and posting a beat down. You can go out on the web see the associated web sites and the violent content. Is this what we are teaching our children through diversity?
Lets face it the people who attacked them didn’t need an Excuse they just didn’t want to be painted as the Thugs they really are. The Idea you can justify Violence over one word is a load of BS but it is used all the time.
Has anyone heard how the two victims are doing now? Are they out of the hospital? I feel so sorry for them both
I have to agree with Sonya in that I really want this to stay in the forefront until someone is apprehended.
Oh and Skydriver, there are plenty of other areas in the bottom/church hill that are safe. Poe’s, Azazia’s, Sette in the bottom and Patrick Henry’s and the Hill Cafe up the hill are all fine. Additionally, in the bottom are Guttenburg and Juleps which are both quite nice. Just be careful not to walk late at night in areas that don’t look safe…
CBS6 has done some followup video on this, one with Mark Holmberg. The victims are recovering physically. One stated it was a set up simply to stage the video. The camara “crew” was stalking them before the thugs came around the corner and began the attack. The video seems to be a trophy of sorts to show off to friends.
Unfortunately, but Bottoms reputation is sinking ever lower.
Check “Mark Holmberg’s Facebook Page.
Paul,
Thanks. I’ll check it out.
I agree with you on the bottom. It’s really sad. What was once a thriving area for collage/young adult hangout is now no more than a ghetto fabulous refuge for thugs. Of course, that’s what happens when the “ghetto fabulous” take over!
I’ve been living in Fulton the last 10 years and working in the Bottom for 3. I’ve lived in Jackson Ward, Oregon Hill, Church Hill, the Fan and West of the Boulevard since 1990 and the East End has actually been the safest place, in my experience, than any of the other neighborhoods.
My goodness, the Fan has been in the news for folks getting robbed at gunpoint this week, shall we all decry the Fan as a thug ridden neighborhood now? Of course not.
That being said though, I’d like to know how other cities handle the hours just before and after bars/clubs let out and why Richmond city can’t get a handle on this because having driven home really late recently, I was surprised by the crowds, the blocked streets, the wandering yelling drunken people and the seeming lack of order. I *get* why people are concerned but I doubt that the crimes in the bottom really outshine some of our other neighborhoods….
Thanks for the somewhat reassuring feedback y’all. I’m still not sure of what area to settle in when we move down.
K_in Fulton, I here ya, I ‘ve run around Baltimore and Philly till late night ( when I was younger) and the cops know right where to set up and patrol. They don’t really care about drunkards leaving the bar at closing so much ( as long as they don’t get in a car) as they are there to help prevent people from getting beaten to near death. Also, it is a fine line between the Bottom, and Church Hill, and the next block up. There hardly seems to be a distinction to me.
Has anyone heard any more about this? Seems like it was at the front and center for a while but I haven’t heard anything more on it here, through the RTD, or through any of the TV news. Does anyone close to the case know anything more at all? How is the victim doing? Any leads for the police? Anything?
Good question SEW. I haven’t heard any more and will be away from my computer for most of the day. I’ll check around late today and post anything I find.
Thanks Richard! I really appreciate it. IMHO, I think this needs to stay in the forefront until there is something done. Just the nature of the crime being so heinous is worth knowing any outcome. Every time I drive by that location I think about what the victims must have gone through…
SEW – I asked Lt. Beazley if he had an update. They are still going through all the info. and tips to attempt to draw a conclusion but no update at this time. I’ve added a link on the left sidebar to see if we can drum up any more information.
Thanks Richard!
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So I guess RPD is giving up on this one?
Aparently so…no more mention in the news or anything.