With four months remaining in the year, the city recorded its 32nd homicide early yesterday, the same total for all of 2008.
Richmond police said James Earl David, 32, died of a gunshot wound shortly after 2 a.m. in the 2200 block of Fairfax Avenue, east of Jefferson Davis Avenue near Hopkins Road.
Neighbors said David was found inside a duplex that last night bore multiple "no trespassing" signs. There was no response from people inside the home last night.
Police declined to say if they know what prompted the shooting.
David made headlines in 1996 when he was 18 and, with a 15-year-old companion, attempted to rob two women as they entered their Clarkson Road apartment off Hull Street Road.
One of the women, a victim of two previous robberies, pulled a gun and seriously wounded David and his companion, both of whom then lived in North Richmond.
Both of the would-be robbers were hospitalized. A jury found David guilty of two counts of robbery and use of a firearm.
It was not clear last night when David was released from prison.
City prosecutors said this week that the city's record low number of homicides last year may have been a statistical anomaly and will be difficult to match in the future.
Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Learned Barry said statistical breakdowns of homicide rates indicate that 50 homicides a year in Richmond would reflect well on Richmond, compared with other metropolitan areas.
In 1994, the city recorded 160 homicides, making it one of the nation's most dangerous places in terms of homicide rates.
Contact Bill McKelway at (804) 649-6601 or bmckelway@timesdispatch.com.
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