Two Additional Persons Charged in North 18th Street Double Homicide Investigation

Following grand jury indictments, two additional persons have been charged in the investigation of the North 18^th Street double homicide incident.

Antoine Hockaday, II, 27, of Henrico County, surrendered at the Richmond Justice Center on April 10 without incident. He has now been charged with accessory after the fact in a murder. His booking photo is attached.

Xavier Thomas, 27, of Petersburg, was taken into custody in a regional jurisdiction on April 15. He has now been charged with possession of a firearm by a non-violent felon. His booking photo is not yet available.

On Saturday, February 21 at approximately 2:47 a.m., a Richmond Police Department officer on patrol in Shockoe Bottom observed a large crowd engaged in apparent confrontations in the 00-block of North 18^th Street. The officer responded and found an adult female, Genesis Jones, 23, of Petersburg, down and unresponsive with apparent gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Additional officers arrived and found an adult male, Dominic Jackson, 42, of Henrico County, down and unresponsive. He had also suffered apparent gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.

In addition to Jones and Jackson, seven other adults were shot and transported to local hospitals. Hockaday was one of the individuals injured during the incident. Two other individuals injured during the incident were charged in March for their role in the shootings.

Additional charges against those involved in this incident are possible.

Anyone with further information about these shootings is asked to call Major Crimes Detective Sergeant M. Gouldman at (804) 646-3915 or call Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. The P3 Tips Crime Stoppers app for smartphones also may be used. All Crime Stoppers reporting methods are anonymous.  

April 16, 2026

Thousands of participants and spectators will take to Richmond’s streets on Saturday, April 18, 2026, for the annual Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K. Numerous road closures and “No Parking” zones will be in effect to accommodate the event.

During the race, Monument Avenue will be closed between Stuart Circle and Willow Lawn Drive. The intersection of Arthur Ashe Boulevard and Monument Avenue will also be closed. Portions of several other major streets will experience closures, including West Broad Street, West Grace Street, West Franklin Street, and Lombardy Street. Graphics detailing the road closures are attached.

The race begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 18. Street closures and “No Parking” zones will be implemented in advance of the event, with some restrictions beginning Thursday, April 16, 2026. Vehicles parked along the race course during restricted times will be towed to ensure the safety of participants and spectators.

Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to plan alternate routes. Residents and visitors are advised to review posted signage and consult the attached maps for specific closure times and locations.

April 15, 2026

WHAT:         Richmond Police Department Command Staff Community Walk

WHEN:         4:30 p.m., TODAY, April 15

WHERE:      The meeting location will be at 3201 West Cary Street, at 4:30 p.m.

Richmond Police Department command staff and Third Precinct officers will walk in Sector 311 with collaborating public safety partners to interact with residents and business owners and offer crime prevention tips. 311 Sector Lieutenant Michael Phibbs and participants will engage business owners and residents to better understand their needs and hear their concerns and suggestions for improvements in public safety. Business owners and residents will receive crime prevention tips to combat shoplifting, theft from motor vehicles, and burglaries.

BACKGROUND:     

This walk is part of a series as the RPD Command Staff walks and talks with residents and business owners throughout the various city precincts, which has been a longstanding tradition of the department. The RPD is committed to cultivating opportunities for open dialogue and building relationships with citizens that extend beyond the response to emergencies.

Media is invited to attend.                            

Community-driven priorities incorporated into FY27 proposed budget  

Richmond, VA  — The City of Richmond is pleased to release the outcome report focused on the City’s inaugural budget town hall series, EngageRVA . The series, which kicked off in January and continued through February, featured interactive sessions hosted in community centers across the City and walked residents through the budget process, including how revenues are allocated, how funding decisions are made, and how community input will be considered and incorporated into the proposed budget.  

Each session challenged participants to step into the shoes of City elected officials and administrators when, after hearing compelling allocation arguments from actual department leadership, they were asked to prioritize and fund their own City government. The exercises mimicked actual budget negotiations by walking participants through City Council discussions, budget amendments, and more.  

“We were proud to welcome more than 1,000 participants to our in-person and digital sessions,” said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II , who hosted the townhalls on behalf of the administration and facilitated discussion with residents. “I truly believe we all walked away more informed than we were before. City leaders learned a lot about where our residents want to see their tax dollars spent and our residents walked away with a deeper understanding of the budget process. This exchange truly represents how people-centered governance works.” 

The report breaks down some of the key insights from these sessions, including resident priorities on budget allocations, with public safety and education overwhelmingly serving as the priority for residents. Administrative services and infrastructure followed closely behind, with residents recognizing that effective government operations are necessary to deliver core services.  

“Events like these are at the very heart of local government,” said Mayor Danny Avula . “Conversations held in town halls and community centers across the City featuring voices which represent the diverse backgrounds of our residents; these are the voices our policymaking and our administration need to reflect. I’m grateful to have had the chance to listen, learn, and incorporate these findings into my proposed budget.” 

The Mayor and City staff used the EngageRVA findings to inform the FY2027 budget proposal, which is currently undergoing the very same budget process that residents got a taste for in this series. Their voice and their priorities can be seen throughout. Notably, Education and Public Safety combined for 39% of all resident mock budget allocations, emphasizing the importance of investing in and protecting our youth, a priority which the Mayor's budget upholds with $257 million going towards Richmond Public Schools and needed investments to improve public safety training and equipment.

Please read the final report from EngageRVA  2026 and, if you missed out on the fun, be sure to check out our recap video, also included below (para español, haga clic aquí ).  

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The Mayor, CAO, and the City would like to thank every single Richmonder who took the time to attend a town hall session, fill out the online survey, or to simply talk with City staff about what matters to them. Your time and your feedback are a critical part of moving this City forward.  

Learn more about this year's budget by visiting go.rva.gov/fy27 

April 12-18, 2026 marks National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, and the City of Richmond is recognizing the dedicated professionals within the Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response (DECPR) who serve as the critical link between the community and emergency response. 

DECPR answers and dispatches all 911 and public safety non-emergency calls for the city of Richmond. The department also provides and supports the public safety infrastructure for the city through its Technology division and the Office of Emergency Management. As one of the busiest emergency communications centers in Virgina, emergency communications officers in the department answer more than 450,000 calls for service yearly. 

As the first point of contact in emergencies, Emergency Communications Officers play a vital role in protecting the safety and well-being of the community. Their work requires extensive training, critical thinking, and the ability to make split-second decisions that can save lives. 

“The work our Emergency Communications Officers do is demanding in ways that aren’t always visible,” said Stephen Willoughby, Director of the Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response. “They carry the responsibility of guiding people through some of the most critical moments of their lives, and it requires a level of strength and dedication that we are deeply grateful for.” 

While National Public Safety Telecommunicators week highlights the vital role of 911 professionals behind the scenes of emergency response, the City of Richmond also recognizes the dedicated technology professionals from DECPR’s technology division and radio shop. These teams provide critical services to help ensure that the systems that support the city’s emergency response capabilities remain reliable and operational at all times. 

“When someone in our city calls for help, they should feel confident there is an entire team of professionals working behind the scenes to ensure they get the help they need, when they need it most,” Mayor Danny Avula said in a statement. “I want to thank the Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and response for the work they do 24/7 to keep our community safe and connected.”