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‘The violence has to stop’ community members react to 5 murders in 7 days of 2016

Posted at 10:56 PM, Jan 07, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-07 23:13:09-05

RICHMOND, Va. -- A vigil for was held Thursday night for Tyrese Mulik Minor, a father of three who was stabbed on December 30th, and died a few days later.

"He was a good man, an awesome man," said Brittany Austin-Ward, his goddaughter. "He loved everyone, he loved his kids."

"Why do you have to kill someone?" asked Austin-Ward, "What's the point? You're not only messing up their life and their families, but you're messing up your life."

Vigil Richmond murder 2

Tyrese Mulik Minor vigil

Minor's death is considered Richmond's first homicide of 2016.

In just seven days into the new year, the city has had five murders. CBS 6 compared that to 2015, and the first homicide in the city of Richmond was on January 27.

The number didn't reach five until March 29.

CBS 6 reached out to the Richmond Police Department to speak to the Chief about the recent murders. A spokesperson told us he couldn't comment, but said he plans to address the violence in the city next week.

Karen Hazaimeh know's the pain of losing a loved one by murder. Hazaimeh's son was murdered 11 years ago.

Tyrese Mulik Minor

Tyrese Mulik Minor

She said it feels as if homicides are becoming the norm.

"All of this is senseless killing," she said. "We're leaving these kids without mothers, without fathers."

Now, she and others are calling on those who live in Richmond to help stop the violence.

"It has to start in the community, once we weed it out it will be okay, we have to weed it out as a community," she said.

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