Man fatally shot on Leigh Street in Richmond

Richmond police were gathering forensic evidence and talking to people after a man was gunned down yesterday on East Leigh Street, between North 21st and North 22nd streets, near Jefferson Park.

Police responded shortly after 4:30 p.m. to the 2100 block of East Leigh Street, where they found the man shot, Detective Ron Brown said.

According to bystanders, the man had been trying to break into a woman's car and was shot by an acquaintance of the woman. The man was transported to VCU Medical Center, where he died.

The woman's acquaintance was taken to police headquarters for questioning in what they called a death investigation.

Victims' advocate Alicia Rasin, who lives in the area, said she heard the gunshots and thought it was a car backfiring.

"It was very shocking for me to drive up on it, to see somebody lying there," she said.

Rasin said it was the first time someone has been killed in the area in the more than 50 years that she has been living there.

"It's peaceful. The neighbors get along with each other," Rasin said. "This was very shocking but very sad. I don't know what happened, but I feel as a Christian I still have to pray for that young man, pray for them all."

Anyone with information is asked to call the Richmond Police Tip Line at (804) 514-TIPS or Metro Richmond Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.

Contact Melodie N. Martin at (804) 649-6290 or .