PETERSBURG, Va. -- One week after a gunman opened fire on a crowd of people outside apartments in the Pecan Acres community, police have upped patrols in the neighborhood.
"The father instinct kicked in, as well as the Chief of Police instinct," Petersburg Police Chief Travis Christian said about his decision to increase patrols over the holiday weekend following the shooting that injured two children. "I felt the kids needed a safe atmosphere."
Petersburg Police kept their patrol cars visible over the long Memorial Day weekend.
"It's a part of our mission statement, we want to reduce the fear of crime," Chief Christian said.
With each passing day, police said neighborhood children grew more comfortable with their temporary neighbors.
"Friday they were kind of hesitant in coming around us," Petersburg Police Capt. Emanuel Chambliss said. "Today, they've been running up to us, wanting to play Tic Tac Toe, wanting to sit on the Polaris, they're just having fun."
Some neighbors expressed appreciation to the officers for their time investment into the community.
"If the police presence is going to keep kids from getting shot, keep them coming out," neighbor Juan Harris said. "They need to be out here for what went on the other night."
Police are still investigating the May 22 shooting and have not yet made any arrests.
Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to call Petersburg/Dinwiddie Crime Solvers at (804)861-1212.
