Richmond city leaders call for ceasefire after a week of 2 homicides
RICHMOND, Calif. (KTVU) - Two homicides this week have city leaders in Richmond calling for an end to gun violence and adding more officers to the streets.
On Friday, family and friends of Mauriana Seymore held a vigil in the 400 block of South 12th Street in Richmond.
It was at that apartment complex where the 16-year-old was shot and killed Tuesday.
"She was coming to see a friend and then she was supposed to come and see me at my place, but she never made it," says Rachelle Wormely, Mauriana's grandmother.
Those close to the teen called her Mauri. Her family says she was an upbeat girl who loved to dance and smile.
"This child was full of life. She was her own person," says Wormely. Within the last few weeks Mauri moved from Baypoint to Richmond to live with her uncles, something they say she was looking forward to.
"I was going to enroll her into the school around the corner from my house. That's what she was waiting for this week. She said she was excited about staying with me this summer," says James Wormely Mauriana's uncle.
Police arrested 19-year-old Brandon Payne of Richmond. He's facing murder charges for Mauri's shooting death.
"We're tired of the senseless killings. We're tired of losing our young folk to gun violence," says Rev. Donnell Jones of Richmond. He and other spiritual leaders in Richmond say the community is hurting and must come together.
They held a cease fire rally at the intersection of South 37th street and Cutting Boulevard— the scene of Thursday's fatal shooting of 26-year-old Reginald Atkinson.
Two officers found him suffering from gunshot wounds when they arrived. With two homicides this week, authorities say more officers will be on patrol.
"We've added additional officers with the recent spike in crime, but based on what happened this week, we've also added a couple additional units," says Richmond Police Lieutenant Felix Tan. Police have yet to release suspect information in Thursday's case, but want to stress that both homicide victims this week were targeted.