Two people were killed and seven others were wounded when gunfire broke out after a street fight in Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom entertainment district early Saturday, police said, as investigators searched for at least two shooters and asked the public for video and tips.
The shooting rattled a busy nightlife area known for bars, restaurants and late-night crowds, and it left families grieving while several injured people remained in the hospital. Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards said the violence started as a verbal argument that turned physical and then escalated when people pulled out guns. Mayor Danny Avula called the shooting “absolutely heartbreaking” and said the city’s residents do not deserve to live with that kind of violence. Police did not announce any arrests as of Sunday and said the investigation was active.
Officers responded just before 3 a.m. after reports of shots fired near the intersection of 18th and Main streets, police said. Edwards said the shooting unfolded around 2:47 a.m. in the 000 block of North 18th Street, where an officer nearby saw a large commotion and cars speeding away. Responding officers found a woman suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and pronounced her dead at the scene, police said. Shortly after, officers found an adult man down and unresponsive with apparent gunshot wounds, and he was also pronounced dead. “It seemed like a fight started, individuals intervened in that fight, and shots were fired,” Edwards said at a news conference later Saturday.
Police identified the victims as 23-year-old Genesis Tamar Jones of Petersburg and 42-year-old Dominic Antoine Jackson of Henrico County. Edwards said nine people were shot. Four women and three men went to the hospital with gunshot wounds, and police said three of the injured people got to a hospital on their own. Officers and investigators collected extensive evidence from the street, including more than 50 shell casings, Edwards said. He said investigators also recovered multiple firearms and towed six vehicles from the area as they worked to sort out what happened and who fired which shots. Police said at least two shooters were involved and suggested more than one person may have fired as the situation spiraled.
Witnesses and relatives described a crowded weekend scene that turned into chaos within seconds. Jones’ family said she came to Shockoe Bottom to celebrate her brother’s birthday and was not involved in the dispute that led to gunfire. Her older brother, Zekiah Jones, told local media he was nearby when he heard what sounded like 10 to 15 shots. He said he did not immediately realize a loved one had been hit because gunfire can be heard in the area at times. “I came out here to celebrate my brother’s 25th birthday,” he said, adding that the night ended with the family trying to understand how Jones was struck. He said police told him she was not part of the fight, and he described her as someone who wanted people to get along.
Shockoe Bottom sits just east of downtown Richmond and draws heavy weekend traffic, with patrons moving between clubs, restaurants and parking areas late into the night. Police said the shooting did not start inside a bar or club, and investigators focused on what happened in the street as groups confronted one another. Edwards said the presence of guns turned a fight that might have ended with bruises into a shooting scene that spread across a block. He said people intervened in the dispute, and the situation escalated quickly once gunfire began. Videos shared on social media and local broadcasts showed a large police presence, flashing lights and taped-off sections of the street as officers searched for shell casings and spoke with witnesses.
Investigators spent Saturday interviewing people who were in the area, reviewing dispatch information and gathering surveillance footage from nearby businesses and street cameras, officials said. Police urged anyone with information, including video from cellphones or vehicle cameras, to contact the department. Edwards said the case would be handled by major crimes detectives, and police asked tips be directed to Detective J. DeBoard at 804-646-6795 or to Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000. Avula, who joined Edwards at the Saturday news conference, said the city would support the police investigation and the victims’ families. “Our hearts cry out for the families of the victims,” Avula said, calling the shooting unacceptable and urging an end to the violence.
As of Sunday, police had not released a description of the shooters or said whether any weapons had been linked to suspects, and they did not say how many people were involved in the initial argument. Authorities also did not identify the seven wounded victims or provide updated conditions, beyond saying multiple people remained hospitalized. Investigators said they would continue canvassing the area and comparing witness accounts with physical evidence, including shell casings and vehicles taken from the scene, to determine how the shooting began and who fired.
The case remained open Sunday night, with detectives continuing to review evidence and seek tips. Police said they planned to provide additional updates when they could confirm more details, including whether any suspects had been identified and whether charges would follow.
Author note: Last updated February 22, 2026.