Richmond man arrested in killing of delivery driver

Authorities charged an 18-year-old Richmond man in the slaying of a Chinese-food deliveryman whose identity is still a mystery a month and a half after his death.

Tobias J. Young of the 1000 block of North 21st Street was arrested Wednesday night. He is charged with conspiracy to commit murder in the July 27 shooting at the Whitcomb Court public-housing complex.

Richmond authorities said they do not believe the killing is connected to Monday's robbery of a Chinese-food delivery driver in Richmond and another in Chesterfield County that same day, or to any other known crimes.

The Chesterfield victim was wounded when he was struck on the head with an unknown object; the Richmond victim on Monday was not assaulted. In April, a Chinese-food deliveryman was killed in an attempted robbery in Henrico County.

The violent crimes have prompted the Richmond area's Asian community to seek solutions.

Tinh D. Phan, chairman of the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce and of the Virginia Asian Foundation, has set a meeting of top area law-enforcement officials and members of the Asian community for Monday at 6 p.m. at the Henrico County Training Center, 7701 E. Parham Road.

Phan hopes that if law-enforcement officials show they are serious about preventing such crimes, it will send a message to would-be perpetrators. He also hopes police will offer safety suggestions for delivery drivers.

Worried representatives of local Chinese restaurants have contacted the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce.

"They are scared to death of what's going on," Phan said, referring to delivery drivers. "Because they have a family they have to raise and because the family's survival is more important than their own lives, they risk their lives to put that bread and butter on the table."

Phan said he was hopeful about Wednesday's arrest in the Whitcomb Court case but added that a long-term solution is needed.

"I do hope that if that person is being arrested, and the right person arrested for it, I hope justice will be done," Phan said.

The July 27 shooting occurred about 11:35 p.m. in the 2400 block of Whitcomb Street. The victim had delivered food and was about halfway back to his car when he was shot multiple times, authorities said. He died at the scene.

Authorities say it was not clear whether anything was stolen from him. A police spokeswoman said they have not listed the incident as a robbery.

The city reports five robberies of food-delivery drivers so far this year, compared with three in Chesterfield, none in Hanover County and seven in Henrico County, including the fatal shooting and attempted robbery in April.

In all of 2008, the city reported 11 robberies of food-delivery employees. There were 10 in Henrico, eight in Chesterfield and none in Hanover, county officials said.

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

Staff writer Mark Bowes contributed to this report.