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Police search for killer after East End shooting

Posted at 7:09 AM, Jun 10, 2012
and last updated 2012-06-10 12:27:49-04

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - Richmond police are searching for a killer after an overnight shooting in the city's East End.

Officers responded to the 2100 block of Creighton Court Road around 12:20 a.m. Saturday.

When police arrived, they found a man in his late twenties suffering from a gunshot  wound. The victim later died at the hospital.

Neighbors told CBS 6 News' Sandra Jones that the man was there visiting someone and that he didn't live in Creighton Court.

This shooting comes the heels of Mayor Dwight Jones plan to revitalize the city’s housing projects, considered the largest between Baltimore and Atlanta on the East Coast.

However, some have are concerned about the idea.

"They're not investing in poor people...apparently,” said Creighton Court Tenant Council President Marilyn Olds.

But plans to change the face of her neighborhood is taking

Olds is concerned about the possible changes to her neighborhood. In fact, she thinks the idea is "just a set up to bring a property down."

Richmond`s City Council has set aside $5 million in next year`s budget to start the process of making improvements to Creighton and Whitcomb courts.

The improvements are part of the mayor's vision to beautify the area and provide better housing for people living those communities. The mayor and his administration also traveled to Atlanta, Chicago, and Norfolk to see how those cities have changed public housing -- and to see if their concepts could work in the River City.

However, city leaders said that major overhauls will not happen without the support of residents and Richmond's Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

But Olds isn't so sure. She said she is concerned about what will happen to the majority of residents who may be left with no place to go.

Additionally, Olds said she hasn't been told anything about the plans even though she is on the president of the tenant council.

And while nothing has been set in stone, Olds remains hopeful that city leaders come up with a plan that works.

"You're talking about a whole lot of houses out here -- and a whole lot of people's lives in the City of Richmond," said Olds.

Crieghton Court is one of Richmond's six public housing areas that could be demolished over time.

Stay with CBS 6 News and WTVR.com for updates on this developing story.