
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, September 8, 1994                   TAG: 9409080085
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

RICHMOND HAS PROBLEM FOR BUSINESS: HOMICIDES

By surpassing this week a murder record it took Richmond 12 months to set two years ago, the city is ruining its reputation as a good place to do business, corporate executives said.

A shooting death Tuesday near a city playground pushed Richmond's 1994 homicide total to 121, one more than the one-year record set in 1992.

This summer's killing pace gives Richmond the second-highest homicide rate among U.S. cities.

For people outside of Richmond, ``one of the first things they hear is, `You're the murder capital of the country, or close to it,''' said Brenton S. Halsey, president of Richmond Riverfront Development Corp.

``It's a significant negative.''

J. Carter Fox, president of Chesapeake Corp., said he recently interviewed a prospective employee, a Richmond native, who ``said he was concerned whether he should return to Richmond because of the crime.''

Fox said, ``It really is a serious matter, and it is adversely affecting the reputation of the community in terms of attracting business headquarters."

Phyllis L. Cothran, president of Trigon Blue Cross/Blue Shield, said job applicants frequently ask about the city's crime problem, but nobody has turned down a job because of it.

Still, ``if we don't turn the tide on the crime situation very soon, it's going to start affecting economic development and overall recruiting efforts for employees,'' she said.

Lawrence H. Framme III, a lawyer who was secretary of economic development during the Wilder administration, said the crisis is ``a horribly serious problem from a human standpoint, and it seems cruel to talk about it in economic terms.'' Framme, a board member of the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park, said economics may be the key to persuading residents to tackle the issue.

While business leaders fear they may soon feel the effects of the crime problem, police say a different kind of fear is affecting residents of neighborhoods beset by violent crime: fear of talking to police.

``The public has to wake up and help us,'' Detective Billy Blaylock said after Tuesday's murder. ``It's a shame that nobody comes forward to be a witness. If they come forward in numbers, they shouldn't have any fear.''

Guns were used in 107 of the 121 killings this year, according to police records, and 12 of the victims have been juveniles. Ninety-two victims have been black males. The other victims were 13 white males, eight black females, three white females and five males of other descent.

More than one-third of the homicides occurred during two months - 23 in April, and 25 in August.

For Sgt. Ken Liles, the violent crime on the city's streets doesn't compare with the Richmond he knew as a youngster.

``This is my city. I grew up in this town, and it really offends me,'' Liles said. ``Another life taken is a step backward for mankind.''

by CNB