When Richmond experienced perhaps the lowest ever homicide rate in 2023, City Council members were quick to take credit, citing such “progressive” policies of defunding police and rent control as contributors.

Councilmember Gayle McLaughlin, who has been on the Richmond City Council for more than a decade, shared a proclamation during the council’s Tuesday meeting highlighting the ongoing collaboration between police, nonprofits and other community groups since the Office of Neighborhood Safety started gaining traction in 2007.

“Violent crime has plagued Richmond in past decades, hurting many families and the reputation of our city,” McLaughlin said Tuesday. “This significant reduction has been the result of a multifaceted approach, which includes prevention and intervention efforts to address crime at its root causes and simultaneously seeking prompt and fair suppression of violent crime when it emerges.”

On Tuesday, the Richmond City Council said that reducing homicide rates requires more than initiatives focused solely on violent crime. Officials lauded the city’s ongoing rent-stabilization policies, recreation opportunities, cultural events and job-training programs for being crucial in creating a safe community for families, saying they were smarter than a focus on prosecution and incarceration.

“Investment in young folks — investment in trying to support people — is what pays off,” Vice Mayor Claudia Jimenez said Tuesday. In order to address the root cause of violence, she praised Richmond’s multi-pronged approach, because “there is no one thing that is the bulletproof (way) to resolve this.”

Even with that, it is still good news that the long-term homicide rate in Richmond continues far below its peaks in the early 1990s and the early 2000s (see graph below)..

Police investigate fatal stabbing, Richmond’s ninth homicide of the year

Richmond police are investigating a July 4, 2024 homicide at the Solace Apartment Homes at 3535 El Portal Drive. Photo/Linda Hemmila

Richmond police are investigating a fatal Fourth of July stabbing at the Solace Apartment Homes at 3535 El Portal Drive.
Lt. Donald Patchin, Public Information Officer for the Richmond Police Department, said they received reports of a stabbing at 4:22 p.m. on Thursday, July 4.

“Officers responded and located an adult female suffering from at least one stab wound, who, unfortunately, was pronounced deceased at the scene,” Patchin said this afternoon. “RPD Homicide detectives are currently on scene investigating.”

Police did not have suspect information, and no arrests have been made.

Richmond police are investigating a July 4, 2024, homicide at the Solace Apartment Homes at 3535 El Portal Drive.

Tim Simmons, Richmond Police Assistant Police Chief, said online detectives and staff are working tirelessly to bring a just resolution to this matter.

District 4 Councilmember Soheila Bana, in whose district the homicide reportedly occurred, expressed her profound sadness over the incident. She emphasized that gender-based violence remains a pressing social issue.

“As a city council member, I also feel a strong sense of responsibility toward addressing this urgent issue, advocating for comprehensive measures to ensure safety and support for all vulnerable individuals in our community,” Bana wrote on social media.

Midway through the year, Richmond has now topped last year’s historic low number of homicides with nine. Before 2023, Richmond has averaged 18-19 homicides per year since 2010.

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