James Edwin Richards

James Edwin Richards
Born ca. 1945
Died October 18, 2000 (age 55)
Venice, California, United States
Cause of death shot to death
Residence Venice, California (1969–2000)
Nationality American
Other names Jim Richards
Education Ohio State University, BA
UC Berkeley, MBA
Occupation Citizen journalist, editor and publisher
House painter, property manager and real estate agent
Organization Venice-area Model Neighborhood Program
Neighborhood Watch
Community Police Advisory Board
Known for Neighborhood News (weekly)
Style Crime reports
Home town Dayton, Ohio
Religion Catholic[1]
Partner(s) Cynthia Jean Moore

James Edwin Richards, also known as Jim Richards,[2] (ca.1945 – 18 October 2000), was an American citizen journalist, editor and publisher of Neighborhood News, a weekly e-mail newsletter, that reported on crime in Venice, California. Richards was murdered at his Oakwood neighborhood home, one convicted assailant was sentenced to 16 years in prison, and the anniversary of his death is honored by locals.[3][4][5][6]

Personal

James Edwin Richards was 55 years old at the time of his murder. He had lived on the 700 block of Vernon Ave for 20 years and in Venice since 1969.[2][3][6] Richards was known in his community as a local anti-crime activist, block captain for the Model Neighborhood Program, and a member of the Community Police Advisory Board.[2][3][5][7] His hometown was Dayton, Ohio. After attending Catholic schools in Dayton, he went on to earn his BA degree from Ohio State University. He then studied at UC Berkeley graduated with a master's degree in business. Before turning to citizen journalism, Richards had made established himself as a house painter, property manager and real estate agent.[1]

His memorial service was held at Church of St. Mark, Oakwood. Richards was survived by his older sister Rita, his companion Cynthia Jean Moore and her two children.[8]

Citizen journalism

Richards reported on criminal activity in the Oakwood neighborhood for around three years and was known by residents to be a "controversial" figure.[9]

As part of his activism against crime, Jim Richards became a citizen journalist focusing on local crime,[7] and he edited and published an Oakwood neighborhood e-mail newsletter, which he published from his home in Venice, California.[5][9][10] Richards was known for reporting what he had heard on crime scanners, visiting crime scenes—often arriving first—and investigating criminals and even photographing drug deals for Neighborhood News.[2][7][11] The Neighborhood News published a listing of crimes, such as shootings, drug sales, thefts, and vandalism.[3]

Death

Oakwood is a neighborhood located in Venice, California.

James Edwin Richards was known as a "controversial" figure in the community, according to Ruth Galanter, a Venice city councilwoman. She called Richards' killing "a straightforward assassination." Galanter said Richards' stance and activism against crime had made him a highly visible obstacle to crime elements and attracted many enemies as a result.[5][9]

Police believed that two assailants murdered Jim Richards. Police said his murderers waited for him and shot him several times in his driveway after he returned home in his camper van from a workout at an all night gym around 4:15 a.m.[12][1][2][3][5]

Legal investigation and prosecution

Police carried out an investigation into Richards' premeditated murder.[13] Initially, police said they did not have any leads and the Los Angeles City Council established a $25,000 reward.[12]

Police investigated a conspiracy to kill Richards.[14][15][16] A man was sentenced on 24 February 2003 to 25 years in prison for his role in a national cocaine ring, and it was also believed that he and others were linked to the slaying of James Richards.[16] Richards kept tabs on the crime activity in his neighborhood and police believed others had conspired to kill him.[16] It was alleged that Richards was killed because the people in the crime ring thought he was giving police information about their operations.[4] The indictment indicated that Richards murder and the attempted murder of an unidentified man were meant to further the individuals criminal enterprise.[17]

There was also a conviction in another case against a person believed to be the only surviving assailant. Byron Lopez, a.k.a. "Crook", who was arrested 26 February 2002 and later pleaded guilty and did not contest the pre-mediated murders charges brought against him. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison.[4][17]

Context

The Vera Davis McClendon Youth & Family Center is a local public meeting place for Oakwood neighborhood activists and residents, located in Venice, California.

Venice, California had experienced a wave of gang-related violence during the 1990s, especially from 1994 to 1997, and experienced a resurgence prior to Richards' murder.[18] In response, police, under the leadership of LAPD Chief of Police Bernard C. Parks, established a Model Neighborhood Program that placed more police in the neighborhoods who were regular patrolling within a zone while at the same time the city of Venice, according to advocate councilwoman Ruth Galanter, would use city resources to clean up vandalism and involve citizens.[19] Richards' Oakwood neighborhood is located in Venice, California and is about 12 city square blocks in size.[7]

Impact

The city of Venice designated 18 October, the anniversary of Richards' murder, as "Jim Richards Day", which has been observed since 2008.[6]

Reactions

As the investigation began, L.A. Police Lt. Horace Frank said, "people ought to be outraged by every murder. We're outraged by every murder and will pursue every murder aggressively."[9]

In reaction to Richards' murder, Venice residents spoke of a climate of fear that was settling in as a result of the violence.

Ruth Galanter, a Venice councilwoman representing Oakwood, said, "It is a heinous act meant to intimidate the community and threaten residents into staying quiet in the face of a criminal takeover of their community by gang members and drug dealers."[3]

Vanessa Celentano, Jim Richard's neighbor, said, "People are going to be more worried now than ever. The fact that the block captain got shot to death, I mean, where does that leave us? It's scary."

Resident Patt Morrison wrote about the intimidation that neighbors in Oakland felt about talking about Richards' murder, the complacency of residents about the neighborhood's problems, and the admiration for Richards' activism in an atmosphere of fear.[7] For example, eight years later, resident Tricia Stewart Shiu recalled Richards' death and noted how she and her Oakwood neighbors were still fearful about local crime and how it stood in contrast with the other characteristics she and her neighbors love about the area.[20]

In the 2008 proposal to create a day of commemoration, Galanter said, "Jim was a brave and dedicated man. The city and the community owe a debt of gratitude to him. Those who believe they can intimidate this community have sorely underestimated the good people of Oakwood."[1][21]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Piccalo, Gina; Streeter, Kurt (Oct 19, 2000). "Venice Anti-Gang Activist Killed in His Driveway". LA Times. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "LAPD Announces Arrest of Suspect Who Murdered Community Activist - official website of THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT". Lapdonline.org. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Was an LA Activist Shot for His Anti-Crime Efforts? - ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  4. 1 2 3 "Man Pleads No Contest in Anti-Crime Activist's Slaying". City News Service. 5 March 2004.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 James Edwin Richards (2000-10-18). "James Edwin Richards - Journalists Killed - Committee to Protect Journalists". Cpj.org. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  6. 1 2 3 "October 18th is Jim Richards Day". Yo! Venice!. October 13, 2011. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Morrison, Patt (October 20, 2000). "Slaying of Venice Activist Proves Danger of Truth-Telling". LA Times. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  8. ↑ Piccalo, Gina (October 24, 2000). "Anti-Crime Activist Mourned as Police Urge Cautious Vigilance". LA Times. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Editor of Venice Newsletter Gunned Down in Apparent Assassination". City News Service. 18 October 2000.
  10. ↑ "Neighborhood anti-crime activist shot to death". Associated Press. 19 October 2000.
  11. ↑ "Journalistik der dræber - Nyheder". www.bt.dk. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  12. 1 2
  13. ↑ Pc-Welt (2000-10-20). "US-Online-Aktivist ermordet - Archiv - PC-WELT". Pcwelt.de. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  14. ↑ Leovy, Jill (March 13, 2002). "Cocaine ring is blamed in slaying of Venice activist". LA Times. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  15. ↑ Leovy, Jill; Kay, Liz F. (March 14, 2002). "Gangs' members united to kill activist, policy say". LA Times. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  16. 1 2 3 "Crips Cocaine". City News Service. 24 February 2003.
  17. 1 2 "Man Pleads Innocent in Anti-Crime Activist's Slaying". City News Service. 25 March 2002.
  18. ↑ Wides, Laura (February 10, 2001). "Gang Violence Returns to Rattle Venice's Oakwood Area". LA Times. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  19. ↑ "24-Hour Police Patrols Seek to Curb Crime". LA Times. June 23, 1998. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  20. ↑ Shiu, Tricia Stewart (2000-10-18). "Is Venice, California, Safe? - Yahoo Voices". voices.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  21. ↑ Newhouse, Mike. "Letter (November 3, 2008)" (PDF). Venice Neighborhood Council.
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