Police, proprietors discuss crime in South Richmond

Hours after a robbery suspect died of wounds from a weekend shooting in a South Richmond store, police officials met last night with area business owners to discuss efforts to curb crime.

James Grooms III, 30, died about 11:20 a.m. yesterday at VCU Medical Center of injuries sustained Saturday during the attempted robbery at the Golden Food Market in the 2700 block of Jefferson Davis Highway.

It was the second shooting at the store in a month, and it happened three blocks from a store where a shopkeeper was killed in June.

Authorities say Grooms shot the store owner, Mustapha Kassou, early Saturday afternoon, and that another armed man inside the store shot Grooms once in the torso, disarmed him and summoned police.

Kassou, who was released from the hospital on Sunday, credits the man who shot Grooms with saving the lives of everyone in the store, but he expressed sadness yesterday about Grooms' death. He said he had hoped Grooms would face punishment through the courts.

"No matter what, we're human beings," said Kassou, who said he is scared of going to his store and doesn't know if he will reopen. "And you don't want to see someone die like that."

Authorities have not identified the man who shot Grooms. Managing Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Tracy Thorne-Begland has said a preliminary investigation indicates that the man was justified in shooting Grooms.

Yesterday, Thorne-Begland said he will not make a final determination until he sees the surveillance video of Saturday's incident and receives a final report from police investigators.

More than 85 people attended last night's meeting at the Satellite Restaurant on Jefferson Davis Highway. During the event, Richmond Police Chief Bryan T. Norwood called the man who shot Grooms a "good Samaritan." The chief said, "He saved many lives that day."

A man in the audience asked Norwood how many times it was OK to shoot at someone in a robbery situation. Norwood replied that police officers are well-trained to handle such situations and that "engaging anyone in combat with a firearm is the last thing I would recommend."

Norwood and other police officials, along with Councilwoman Reva M. Trammell, assured the audience that every effort is being made to fight crime along the Jefferson Davis corridor.

Several members of the audience praised police and thanked them for their efforts.

David Marotta, owner of Marotta & Sons construction company, said he has noticed a strong police presence in the area and is not afraid, although two of his sons have started carrying guns when they are working at night as a precaution.

Police Cmdr. Steve Drew said the department has deployed foot patrols, bicycle patrols and plainclothes officers and set up traffic stops along Jefferson Davis, among other measures. He also reminded business owners not to hesitate to report anything that looks suspicious.

Drew said the number of violent crimes along the corridor has decreased from 13 in May to nine in June to two so far in July.

In addition to Saturday's shooting at Golden Food and the unsolved shooting at the store on June 12, a co-owner of the nearby Come and Go Market was killed June 9. No one has been charged in the slaying.

Police are awaiting ballistics tests that could shed light on whether Grooms might have been responsible for any other robberies in South Richmond or in Chesterfield County.

Contact Reed Williams at (804) 649-6332 or .