61 people were killed in Richmond in 2016; here are their stories

Tyrese Minor, 36, of the 1900 block of Repp Street, died Jan. 1 at a local hospital after being stabbed two days earlier in the East End, making him the first homicide of 2016 in Richmond. Police found Minor suffering from a stab wound just after 10:45 p.m. Dec. 30, 2015, in the 2200 block of Williamsburg Road near Liberation Church International. Police arrested Kenya N. Williams, 43, of the 2200 block of Williamsburg Road at the scene. She pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter in June, but was not sentenced to any active prison time.

Quincy C. Broadnax, 37, of the 1000 block of Kingswood Street, was fatally shot Jan. 3 in a rear yard of a home in the 3800 block of Midlothian Turnpike near East Roanoke Street. He is survived by a son and daughter.

Djan R. Robinson, 36, of Richmond, was fatally shot Jan. 6 in the 1000 block of Highland View Avenue near Hotchkiss Park. He was found lying in the Highland Terrace roadway shortly after 6 a.m., and pronounced dead at the scene. He leaves behind a son.

Mark Jackson-Silver, 19, of the 1300 block of Jennie Scher Road, was shot multiple times Jan. 7 at the Midlothian Inn in the 6500 block of Midlothian Turnpike in South Richmond. He later died at a local hospital. Alvin L. Ruffin Jr., 25, of the 1200 block of East Marshall Street, is scheduled to stand trial in March on charges of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Jerquell Cheatham, 21, of the 700 block of Everett Street, was shot three times from behind, in his lower back, shoulder and arm, early Jan. 18 inside the Illusions Night Club in the 6300 block of Midlothian Turnpike. Another man was wounded in the hand by the gunfire, and a woman who fled in a panic was hit by a car in the parking lot. They both survived, according to police. Trevell A. Harvey, 27, of the 2400 block of Third Avenue, smiled after he was found guilty of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of murder by a Richmond jury in May. He was sentenced to life plus three years in prison. Cheatham had a big heart and was the father of two young children, a woman who spoke on behalf of his family at Harvey’s trial said. About two dozen relatives packed the courtroom in May.

Ericelle C. Coleman, 27, of Richmond, died Feb. 1, five days after he was shot in a Brookland Park neighborhood. Shortly after 10 p.m. on Jan. 27, Coleman was found suffering from a gunshot wound when police responded to a report of random gunfire in the 3100 block of Richmond-Henrico Turnpike.

Velda L. Garner, 57, of the 2400 block of Burton Street, was fatally shot Feb. 3 in a murder-suicide. Police found Garner’s body in her home in Richmond’s East End shortly before 6:30 p.m. Earlier that day, her boyfriend, Richard Burton, 58, of Henrico County, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the medical examiner, leading police to check on Garner. Garner was a mother of four, grandmother to nine and great-grandmother of one, according to her obituary.

Veka “Shawn” Chham, 30, of Fresno, Calif., and Akeem J. Williams, 30, of the 300 block of East 11th Street in Richmond, were both found shot Feb. 9 inside a home in the 5700 block of Thorndale Lane. Chham was found in an upstairs bedroom shot in the stomach. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. Williams was found dead on the first floor of the building. His death later was ruled as a justified homicide. Richmond detectives said the deaths were drug-related. In November, Japell Christian, 34, of the 5700 block of Yates Lane in Highland Springs, pleaded no contest to second-degree murder in Chham’s death. Chham’s brother, Chha Chham, told police he shot Williams, who, along with a man later identified as Christian, had broken into the home and attempted to rob the brothers at gunpoint, according to court records.

Latrice Walden, 3, of the 5800 block of Orcutt Lane, died Feb. 15 from blunt force trauma, according to the medical examiner. At about 4:30 a.m. Feb. 15, Richmond Ambulance Authority personnel called police to the 3900 block of Chamberlayne Avenue across from Ginter Park Elementary School for a report of a child who was unconscious but breathing after reportedly falling in a bathtub.

Latrice was taken to VCU Medical Center, where she died. The medical examiner detailed more than 80 bruises and lacerations on her face, arms and legs. In her obituary, Latrice is referred to by the nickname “Ladybug.”

Danielle L. Turner, 24, of the 3900 block of Chamberlayne Avenue, was charged with felony child neglect in February, days after the girl’s death. The charges later were upgraded to first-degree murder. According to Richmond police, Turner is a friend of the Walden family. Turner since has been deemed incompetent to stand trial, and was sent to a psychiatric hospital to be restored to competency.

Cory J. Holmes, 40, of the 1300 block of Coalter Street, and Marquetta Y. Harris, 39, of the 2900 block of Chamberlayne Avenue, were gunned down Feb. 20 in Harris’ apartment complex near Battery Park by her ex-boyfriend. Dennis Moore, 36, of the 1900 block of Accommodation Street, surrendered to police three days later. In August, he pleaded guilty to their first-degree murders, and was sentenced Monday to 33 years in prison for each count in the murders.

Marquetta Harris was nearly five years clean of heroin, according to her sister, Natasha Harris. The sisters were planning a celebratory trip to Kentucky to surprise their mother. About a week after Natasha emailed Marquetta a flight itinerary, Marquetta was killed.

A mother of three, Marquetta had begun to piece her life together, according to her sister. She had entered a treatment program, sobered up, found a job sorting mail and was determined to reclaim custody of her 17-year-old son, of whom Natasha now has custody. She was talking about moving out of her one-bedroom apartment into a bigger place.

“I just knew she was going to be on top because she had her life in order,” Natasha said.

The family gathered on Sundays for dinner and card games. Everyone would pitch in for ingredients and lend a hand in the kitchen, but it was Marquetta who could cook dishes like Maryland crab balls, which she picked up after spending time in Baltimore. The family gathered one last time at Marquetta’s bedside at VCU Medical Center as she died.

Cory Holmes had a daughter and two grandchildren, with a third on the way. One of 10 siblings, he was the youngest child on his mother’s side, and the oldest son on their father’s side, according to his sister, Shenell Holmes.

“My brother was one of a kind,” she said. “Cory loved his family and cherished every moment with his grandkids and nieces and nephews. Cory Holmes was a hero to many.”

Nathaniel A. Bullock, 26, of the 3000 block of Chamberlayne Avenue, was found Feb. 22 lying in the parking lot at his apartment complex. He had been shot in the head. He leaves behind a daughter.

Thomas Jones Sr., 54, of the 1300 block of North 29th Street, was shot in the back of the head March 2 while watching television at his Church Hill home, police said. Investigators believe the bullet came from Jones Sr.’s own gun, a .40-caliber Hi-Point handgun, but the weapon was never recovered. Thomas Jones Jr., 25, who had lived with his father, was acquitted in October of the killing.

Clemente Jimenez-Lopez, 34, of the 1400 block of Armfield Road, was found unresponsive March 7 in the parking lot of the Town & Country Apartments in the 1400 block of Armfield Road. He had been shot and died at the scene, police said. With help from the FBI and relatives in Guatemala, detectives were able to determine Jimenez-Lopez’s identity. He previously had been mistaken for another man.

Eric A. Banks, 35, was shot and found lying on the ground March 24 outside one of the residences in the 1900 block of Raven Street in Mosby Court. He was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital. Floresa Banks, a cousin, described him as a fun-loving person, the father of a 16-year-old son and a huge fan of singer Smokey Robinson. He had worked as a mechanical engineer, she said at vigil held just after his death.

Kemberly A.M. Williams, 49, of the 1800 block of North 29th Street, was killed by a stray bullet while watching television on March 24. Police said the round that struck Williams was fired from outside the residence, which is a few blocks from Creighton Court. She had two children.

Chantel E. Norville, 25, of Henrico County, was found dead March 28 in a car at Circle Shopping Center on Hull Street. Police determined that Norville and a second victim, who survived, were shot in the 3900 block of Larchmont Lane near Midlothian Village and then drove to the shopping center, where they called for help. She is survived by three children.

State trooper Chad P. Dermyer, 37, of Gloucester County, was shot and killed March 31 by a violent felon from a Chicago suburb during a Virginia State Police training exercise at Richmond’s Greyhound bus station, 2910 N. Boulevard. A Marine Corps veteran and native of Jackson, Mich., Dermyer graduated from the state police academy in 2014 and had been transferred to a counterterrorism and criminal interdiction unit after serving on patrol in the Newport News and Hampton areas. He previously had served in Jackson and Newport News as a police officer.

He had been talking to James Brown III, 34, of Aurora, Ill., before the man pulled a Beretta .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol and shot Dermyer several times. Other state troopers nearby then shot and killed Brown, who was heavily armed while traveling from North Carolina, where he has family ties, to Chicago.

The trooper’s 38th birthday came three weeks after his death, and Thanksgiving was especially difficult for the family because it was the wedding anniversary for Dermyer and his wife, Michelle. Just before his death, the couple and their two children had moved into their “dream home” in Gloucester, said John Dermyer, Chad Dermyer’s father.

“He had the best personality of anyone I knew,” John Dermyer said recently of his son. “He could walk up to anybody and make friends with them.”

Brian E. Szabo, 55, of the 100 block of Westmoreland Street across from Mary Munford Elementary School, was fatally stabbed inside his home April 2. A SunTrust banking executive, Brian is survived by his wife, Christine, and their four children. Nigel E. Walker, 26, who had been living at the Szabos’ home, has been charged with his death. Police said the two men had argued just before Szabo’s death. Walker’s defense team plans to mount an insanity defense for the Army veteran after he has been deemed able to stand trial.

Szabo worked 26 years with SunTrust and its predecessor, most recently serving as executive vice president of corporate risk. He was a board member of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra and was a Cleveland sports fanatic, according to his obituary. He enjoyed playing golf, tennis and the drums in several bands.

Herbert L. Brown Jr., 32, of Chesterfield County, was fatally shot April 10 in the driver’s seat of a vehicle parked on a curb near St. Peter Catholic Church in the 200 block of North Eighth Street. In June, three men turned themselves into police. William H. Lee II, 31, of Chesterfield, was charged with shooting into an occupied vehicle and causing a death, as well as use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Malcolm A. Gordon, 30, and Corey L. Boston, 32, both of Portsmouth, were charged with accessory after the fact.

Wayne M. Smith Jr., 34, of the 6300 block of Midlothian Turnpike, was discovered April 30 after he was shot multiple times in the courtyard of the Richmond Inn and Suites at 6346 Midlothian Turnpike. Smith was taken to Chippenham Hospital, where he died.

Rashawn A. Brathwaite, 23, of the 2300 block of Whitcomb Street, was shot, along with another man, May 9 at the Midlothian Village Apartments in South Richmond. Kyreek R. Carter, 19, of the 1000 block of St. Paul Street, and Larry M. Scott, 31, of the 5600 block of Petoskey Avenue, were arrested in June and May, respectively, and charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Police believe the motive was robbery.

Travis A. Horton, 29, of the 3300 block of Meadowdale Boulevard, was found dead May 10 in the driver’s seat of a vehicle parked at the 701 Express Store, 701 Jefferson Davis Highway. He had been shot multiple times.

“He was my heart,” said Horton’s aunt, Beverly Brooks. “He was the center of the family. Whoever did this to him, I just don’t understand.”

Brooks said Horton had just left her home after having a family meal when he was shot. “It wasn’t an hour later that we got the call,” she said.

She voiced her frustration at a town hall meeting held by the police chief two days after her nephew’s death.

“My family has been touched three times with this violence,” she said. “There has to be something we can do to put our hand on all this violence.”

Hasheen E. Slaughter, 25, of Chesterfield, was unresponsive when he was found May 15 with gunshot wounds in the breezeway of the Somerset Glen Apartments in the 400 block of Westover Hills Boulevard. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Tracy D. Stover, 26, of the 400 block of Westover Hills Boulevard, goes to trial next month charged with first-degree murder, robbery and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, as well as several probation violations.

Paige E. Johnson, 25, was pronounced dead June 4, shortly after police responded to a shooting at the Midlothian Inn, 6523 Midlothian Turnpike. Police said there was an interaction between Johnson and three suspects, who were seen fleeing the scene, outside the motel room on a balcony.

The body of Juan C. Ramirez-Hernandez, 35, of the 2200 block of Dragonfly Lane in North Chesterfield, was discovered wrapped in a blanket inside an apartment on the 1700 block of Clarkson Road off Hull Street. His hands had been tied behind his back and he had been strangled. Jose G. Saldanes Villalobos, 27, of Williamsburg, was found guilty of his first-degree murder in November. A jury recommended a 50-year prison sentence, but he will be formally sentenced in March.

Ramirez-Hernandez had three children. His daughters, both of whom spoke at Villalobos’ trial, wore sweatshirts screen-printed with their dad’s photo. Jennifer, his oldest child at 14, said her father was the only one who understood her. She had been looking forward to her quinceañera, a traditional celebration of a girl’s 15th birthday popular in Latin American cultures.

“A big part of it is the father-daughter dance,” she said with tears running down her cheeks. “I didn’t have time to practice with him.”

Ronald C. McWilliams, 23, of the 1000 block of East 15th Street off Dinwiddie Avenue, was found dead June 18 in the backyard of a home on the block where he lived.

James M. Williams, 36, of the 1900 block of Raven Street, was found June 24 on a sidewalk in the 2200 block of Ford Avenue near Mosby Court, less than a tenth of a mile from his home. Williams had been shot multiple times and died later in the hospital.

Michael E. McCray, 38, of Columbia Street, was found inside a room at the City Motel, 3015 Jefferson Davis Highway, just after noon on July 1. He had four sons.

The body of Lakeith D. Hurd, 19, of Chesterfield County, was found on July 1 in a grassy area in the 3100 block of Laurelbrook Drive off Hopkins Road.

Albert C. Trower, 56, was shot and killed July 10 in the 100 block of Playn Street in the city’s Swansboro neighborhood. Shawn L. Richardson, 23, of the 2400 block of Tignor Road, is scheduled for trial next month for first-degree murder, two counts of robbery and five gun charges.

Erik R. McCorkle, 24, of Highland Springs in Henrico County, was killed and two others were injured after an argument turned into a shooting at an apartment building in the 1300 block of West Broad Street near Virginia Commonwealth University.

Michael A. Minor, 44, of the 4900 block of Goddin Circle, was gunned down and robbed July 30 outside the Black Tie Social Club at 2825 Nine Mile Road. He died on the scene.

His sister, Caressa Jennings, a grief and loss expert, frequently receives late-night phone calls. So when the phone rang around 3 a.m. that night, she thought little of it. But it was one of her brothers, not a hospital seeking her counsel, telling her to come to the nightclub in Richmond’s East End where Minor worked.

A police officer stopped her when she arrived. Police cars eerily illuminated the early morning fog — Jenning said it felt like a dream.

“My (other) brother was on the floor crying,” she recalled. “His dad was beside himself. They left him outside, on the ground.”

He was shot in the back of head, Jennings said. The gunman took a bag Minor was carrying.

Minor was laid to rest a week later. A diehard Washington Redskins fan, he was buried in a jersey signed by several players of the team.

He coached with the Rich City Spiders and was surrogate father to a 14-year-old boy, who lost his mother to cancer at 4. The boy called Minor “dad.”

Her family made an impassioned plea to the community to stop the violence and help find Minor’s killer — police released a sketch and described the suspect as a black male in his mid-30s, approximately 6 feet tall with a medium to heavyset or stocky build, a round face and short hairstyle. The assailant left in a white Chrysler 300 sedan.

Benjamin T. Goode, 32, of the 500 block of East Beale Street, was shot Aug. 15 in the 1800 block of Creighton Road near Creighton Court, then ran toward the area of 30th Street and Nine Mile Road and collapsed, police said. Goode was taken to a local hospital, where he died, police said.

Desmond L. Holmes, 32, of Henrico County, was shot to death Aug. 21 in the parking lot of an apartment building in the 3900 block of Chamberlayne Avenue near Ginter Park Elementary School in Richmond’s North Side. Demontrell C. Hurdle, 30, and Bernardo L. Jones Sr, 20, both of the 3900 block of Chamberlayne Avenue, were charged with first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Brian M. King, 24, of Chesterfield County, died from a gunshot wound Aug. 23 in the courtyard of Foxwood Apartments in the 5000 block of Snead Road. King was married with one son and three stepchildren.

Habeeb A. Hafeed, 30, of the 1800 block of North 30th Street, was outside his convenience store, Sam’s Mart, in the 1800 block of North 30th Street near Creighton Court, when gunshots rang out Aug. 24. Hafeed fell to the ground and died on scene. The business was closed at the time of the incident, police said.

Joseph C. Johnson, 44, of the 1900 block of Whitcomb Street, and a woman were shot Aug. 26 when a fight broke out at a party in the 2300 block of Bethel Street in Whitcomb Court. Both were taken to a hospital, where Johnson died. The woman survived.

Antonio M. Grier, 37, of the 2500 block of Mandy Lane, was shot Aug. 28 in the 4800 block of Orcutt Lane off Broad Rock Boulevard.

Travis L. Carrington, 36, of the 3200 block of Fifth Avenue, and Rodney D. Smith, 40, of Henrico County, were discovered Sept. 2 inside a car that veered off a road into a front lawn in a quiet South Richmond neighborhood. Officers were summoned about 7:15 a.m. to the 1000 block of Ridgecliff Drive off Hull Street for a report of a traffic crash and discovered the bodies in a Nissan sedan. Both had been shot.

James D. Williams, 31, of the 800 block of West Catherine Street, died from a gunshot wound Sept. 16 in the 1100 block of St. Paul Street in Gilpin Court. Police believe the incident stemmed from an argument. Mark A. Cephas, 27, was charged with murder and a gun charge. Williams had six children.

Quan Zheng, 34, of Chesterfield County, was delivering an order of Chinese food Sept. 16 in the 1400 block of Lenmore Street off Jefferson Davis Highway when he was struck with his own vehicle in a car theft and hit-and-run incident. Zheng died the next day.

James T. Bishop, 54, was fatally shot Sept. 19 while riding a lawn mower in 3700 block of Castlewood Road off Bells Road. Bishop was taken to a local hospital, where he died.

Jarod Buford, 22, of Petersburg, was found in a car Sept. 23 on Midlothian Turnpike about a mile from where police believe he was shot in the 4000 block of the highway near George Wythe High School. He was taken to VCU Medical Center, where he later died.

Anthony D. Mack, 41, of the 3200 block of Enslow Avenue, died Sept. 24 after he was shot in the 1000 block of St. Paul Street in Gilpin Court.

Shantisha L. Dortch, 29, of the 1600 block of Glenfield Avenue off Commerce Road, was killed in a murder-suicide Oct. 2, according to police. Hours after police responded to the home that Dortch shared with Brian A. Harris, 30, they found both dead inside.

A graduate of Meadowbrook High School, Dortch was a certified nursing assistant, according to her obituary. She recently had graduated from Centura College with a certification in phlebotomy and was excited to start her new career. She had two children.

Carmella D. Winston, 52, of Henrico, was visiting family in Gilpin Court Oct. 9 when she was struck by a stray bullet. Her mother was driving, Winston was in the passenger seat and two young children were in the back of the car when the bullet shattered the windshield and struck Winston.

Winston was known as Diane, her middle name. She was a certified nursing assistant and a cook at McDonald’s.

Winston lived with her mother, Jean Redwood, in Henrico, but she was born and raised in Gilpin Court. The family moved after Redwood lost another daughter, who also was killed in Gilpin Court 28 years ago.

Shamalda Witherspoon, Winston’s niece, described her aunt as the “life of the party” and said she always had a smile on her face.

Although Winston didn’t have any children of her own, Witherspoon said it was their aunt who helped raise the family’s 17 nieces and nephews and taught them to do right by people.

“She didn’t do anything wrong,” she said. “She didn’t deserve it.”

Marc E. Johnson, 48, was shot to death Oct. 12 and left on a sidewalk in the 5300 block of Blue Ridge Avenue in Richmond’s Fulton community.

He was well known in the neighborhood where he lived in the 5600 block of Simpson Avenue, about a half-mile from where he was found. Neighbors described Johnson as a good guy and a “lady’s man.” A graduate of Highland Springs High School, Johnson was always joking around and raced four-wheelers, they said. He had one daughter.

Ronald A. Holder, 48, of Henrico, was discovered Oct. 14 slumped behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz parked in front of the Dollar General store in the 3900 block of Walmsley Boulevard. Holder was the manager of the store, which was not open at the time, but police believe he was shot and robbed.

Holder had just moved to the area to be with his fiancé, Angela Black. The couple had known each other since grade school.

“He just had a big heart,” Black said. He took over as store manager just months before his death — the neighborhood was dicey, Black knew, but she never imagined the worst would happen. “He knew the store needed someone who would do better. People started to notice a change. He really believed in working above and beyond.”

A die-hard football fan, Holder coached when his two sons, now grown, played. He loved jazz music and often visited the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Black recalled a day trip — they’d often visit the beach or Williamsburg, just to get away — they’d taken for his birthday, as she flipped through a photo album she’d had made just before his death. It’s all she has now to remember to the good times.

“It was just the perfect day,” she said. “They were all good days. It was just the time that we spent that made it all good. It didn’t require much for us just to enjoy each other.”

Tevon F. Dickerson, 24, of the 200 block of Plazaview Road, was found Oct. 19 lying on a road near Chippenham Hospital suffering from a gunshot wound. Police believe Dickerson was shot in the 5100 block of Forest Hill Avenue, and then was driven about 2½ miles to Jahnke Road in an attempt to get him medical attention.

Naquan R. Bentley, 35, of the 5800 block of Westover Village Drive, was shot and killed outside the 3300 block of Lawson Street on Oct. 22. Tracey S. Hughes, 54, of the 3300 block of Lawson Street, is scheduled to go to trial in April for murder and three gun charges.

William “Noony” D. Norwood, 30, died Nov. 6 after being gunned down in 2700 block of Hull Street near Olympic Auto Center. A transgender woman, Norwood went by the name Noony, according to close friends, although family members identified Norwood as male.

Zakia McKensey, a longtime friend, said Richmond’s LGBT community was shaken by Noony’s slaying. McKensey said whenever she hears house music, she’ll think of Norwood’s “vogue” dancing.

Tyrell L. Johnson, 22, of the 1400 block of Gavestone Court, was shot and killed Nov. 9 in the 300 block of Marshall Street in Jackson Ward. Another man with abrasions was found nearby, police said.

George M. Carrington, III, 17, was found shot Nov. 25 near an overturned white Buick sedan in the 600 block of Milton Street in the Providence Park neighborhood. The Thomas Jefferson High School senior’s son, the fourth in a line of George M. Carringtons, was born just three days after his death.

Carrington was known for his automotive skills, his mother, Virnita Carrington said, wearing his sweatshirt dotted with grease stains and his shoes that were obviously too big. He dreamed of attending Universal Technical Institute, a training school for the transportation industry, where he had an interview scheduled days after his death.

Martin Edwards, who teaches automotive technology at the Richmond Technical Center, spoke at Carrington’s vigil at his mother’s request.

“Thank you for sharing George with me,” Edwards said. George was only one of two students who had the teacher’s cellphone number. “He was like so many students at Richmond Public Schools. They’d walk down the hallway, they’d walk into the classroom and he walked into your heart.”

Ishmael D. Brown, 17, turned himself into detectives earlier this month and was booked on a charge of murder.

Alton L. Neal, 37, of the 2100 block of Cedar Street, was shot and killed Nov. 27 in the 2000 block of Fairfield Avenue near Bradford Manor Apartments. Antonio L. Morris, 27, of Chesterfield County, was arrested later that week and charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to commit murder.

Javar Mayo, 24, of the first block of Lombardy Street, was found by police Nov. 30 suffering from a gunshot wound in the driver’s seat of a vehicle that had pulled onto a curb in the 100 block of East 33rd Street off Midlothian Turnpike. He died the next day. Ralph A. Kimbrough Jr., 21, of the 1000 block of Decatur Street, was indicted last month on charges of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Raheem J. Davis, 20, of the 100 block of East Broad Rock Road, is wanted on felony charges in the slaying.

Tychelle R. Johnson, 25, of the 1500 block of Jennie Scher Road, was shot to death Dec. 2 in her apartment in Richmond’s Fulton neighborhood. Officers also found a man who had been shot nearby. He was taken to a local hospital and survived, police said. Johnson was the mother of three.

Jahmeique L. Phillips, 18, of the 1800 block of Q Street, was shot Dec. 11 in the block where she lived in Mosby Court. Another woman also was injured after an argument among several people in a yard. Devonta S. Ross has been charged with aggravated assault, but additional charges are pending, according to police.

Lakim L. Booker, 21, of the 2200 block of Joplin Avenue, was shot to death Dec. 18 inside a vehicle in the 1500 block of Bowen Street in South Richmond’s Bellemeade neighborhood. Another man was injured and found nearby in the 2300 block of Oakland Place. Daquan K. Tucker, 21, and Wali F. Jones, 25, were both charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

Bryant C. Bogle, 33, of Henrico, was found on a sidewalk Dec. 19 in the 3100 block of Carolina Avenue off Meadowbridge Road after gunfire was reported in the area.

Of the 61 homicides, police have made arrests in 24 cases, though not every case has been prosecuted. In three cases, the suspect died. That leaves 34 grieving families still looking for answers.