Action Item! VCU to have crime meeting tomorrow (Th) night!

[OakRidgeStars]

VA-ALERT: Action Item! VCU to have crime meeting tomorrow (Th) night!

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Due to a large number of criminal attacks in and around the VCU campus in Richmond recently, the university is planning a to have a university "safety" town hall meeting and VCDL needs to be there!

The town hall will be held at:

Harris Hall Auditorium
1015 Floyd Ave.
Richmond VA

Time: 8:30 PM to 10 PM
Date: Thursday, October 11

Let's show up and give support to the students, faculty, and staff in their wish to be safer. The university disarms all of them, creating a great environment for criminals, as has been quite evident lately.

I will be there around 8:00 PM with Guns Save Lives stickers that we can distribute to all who wish to sport one at the meeting.

I also plan to speak at the meeting.

Because of VCU regulations, you cannot carry in their buildings, but can carry outside. (The GSL stickers will be distributed outside.)

*** If you are going to be there, let me know as this is late notice. ***

Here is an email from the VCU police on the meeting, followed by a news article on the rash of violent crime at VCU:

To the VCU and VCU Health System communities:

Richmond Police have arrested two men suspected of involvement in the Monday night robbery spree on and around the Virginia Commonwealth University campus. Neither suspect is associated with VCU. Additional charges are pending.

I'm writing to reinforce what VCU President Rao has emphatically
stated: VCU responds aggressively to crimes committed on campus, especially those involving violence and the victimization of our students, faculty and staff. Every member of the VCU community must be involved in the effort to keep VCU safe.

VCU Police and the VCU Division of Student Affairs will host a university safety town hall meeting on Thursday, Oct. 11, from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Harris Hall Auditorium, 1015 Floyd Ave. Information will be provided about current university safety initiatives, response to crime on and around campus, alert communications and personal safety practices. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and address concerns.

Regards,

John Venuti, Chief of Police

--

From RVANews.com: http://tinyurl.com/8v4jodz

Six robbery-related crimes near VCU within one hour by Nathan Cushing

Six robbery-related incidents involving firearms took place last night both on and near VCU’s Monroe Park Campus, according to Richmond and VCU Police.

The first incident occurred at approximately 7:37 PM at 913 W.
Franklin Street. Witnesses reported that three black males approached, one displayed a firearm and demanded money.

An attempted robbery involving a firearm took place a short time later at Grace and Foushee streets at approximately 8 PM. Around the same time, another robbery took place at First and Grace streets in which the assailant brandished a gun. The victim told Police that the assailant wore pajama pants with a chili pepper pattern.

Both an armed robbery and an attempted armed robbery occurred a short time later around 8:30 PM at Laurel and Cary streets.

Police report that yet another attempted robbery took place a short distance away at Cary and Belvidere streets also around 8:30 PM.
Police say all incidents might involve the same individual.

“I am very upset along with all of you that last night six robbery related crimes happened on or in the vicinity of the Monroe Park Campus,” said VCU President Michael Rao in a statement today.
“Richmond Police are investigating five of the incidents and VCU Police are investigating the one incident that happened on our property [at 913 W. Franklin]. Together they are working diligently to apprehend those responsible for these crimes.”

Safety, said Rao, “is a top priority at VCU,” adding that the University’s police force is the largest in Virginia with 92 sworn officers.

Rao: “What happened last night is untenable. I [will] meet with Richmond’s Chief Administrative Officer and Police Chief today, and with Mayor Jones tomorrow. I will emphasize my concern for the continued need for a strong partnership between VCU and the city to prevent crime and protect the more than 50,000 students, faculty and staff who live and work on and near our campuses.”

VCU informed students and the community of the armed robberies throughout the evening via the VCU Alert system.




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VA-ALERT is a project of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc.
(VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right.

VCDL web page: http://www.vcdl.org [http://www.vcdl.org/]