Richmond police warn of dangers of celebratory gunfire: 'We want everyone to be safe'
and last updated 2020-12-31 11:03:17-05
RICHMOND, Va. -- The Richmond Police Department and the mother of a young mother killed by celebratory gunfire last New Year's Eve are asking people not to take part in the tradition this year.
"It's never appropriate to fire a gun to celebrate the New Year. We want everyone to be safe this year and we want to ensure that that tragedy doesn't reoccur," said RPD Capt. Rick Edwards, commander of the First Precinct.
Edwards said he responded to the call last year that that involved La-Tiyah Hood, 28. He said police were called at 12:13 a.m. on January 1, 2020 to the 2500 block of North Avenue. Hood had been shot and was taken to the hospital where she died.