A night of birthday celebrations in Richmond, Virginia’s historic Shockoe Bottom entertainment district turned deadly early Saturday, February 21, 2026, when a street fight erupted into gunfire, killing two people and wounding seven others in what authorities are calling a mass shooting.
The violence unfolded at 2:47 a.m. on North 18th Street, more than 45 minutes after bars had closed for the night. An officer patrolling nearby noticed a large commotion in the middle of the block and arrived at the scene before 911 calls began flooding in. She found 23-year-old Genesis Tamar Jones of Petersburg shot dead. Additional officers quickly discovered a second victim, 42-year-old Dominic Antoine Jackson of Henrico, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Seven additional victims sustained gunshot wounds. One woman remains in life-threatening condition. Four victims were transported by the Richmond Ambulance Authority, while three others drove themselves to hospitals. Officers immediately began rendering aid at the scene, applying tourniquets and providing pressure to wounds.
Genesis Jones had been out celebrating one of her brothers’ birthday with family when gunfire shattered the night. Her older brother, Zekiah Jones, was at Margarita’s Cantina when he heard the shots. He described his sister as “the life of the party” who loved bringing people together. According to police, Genesis was not involved in any dispute and was simply walking through the area when she was struck—an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.
Dominic Jackson was a father of two and a soon-to-be grandfather. His family is now preparing for a funeral instead of a celebration.
Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards said surveillance footage shows the incident began as a fight between two groups of people on the street after bars closed at 2 a.m. What started as fist-fighting quickly escalated when multiple individuals drew firearms. Edwards confirmed at least two shooters opened fire, with shots ringing out from multiple directions.
The crime scene was massive. Investigators recovered over 50 cartridge casings and two firearms, with at least four different caliber rounds identified. Police towed six vehicles as evidence and continue searching for additional weapons believed to have been involved. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is assisting Richmond police with ballistics analysis. Evidence placards at the scene numbered into the 60s.
Surveillance footage captured multiple bystanders filming the fight on their phones before shots were fired. Chief Edwards urged anyone with video to share it with investigators, noting that community footage could prove critical to identifying suspects.
The shooting has reignited concerns about violence in Shockoe Bottom, a popular nightlife destination that has struggled with recurring safety issues. Last year, an RPD officer called the area “an absolute disaster” due to the prevalence of firearms, in an email obtained by local media. Richmond Police mandated overtime for officers throughout the summer and fall of 2025, resulting in about a dozen officers patrolling Shockoe Bottom every Friday and Saturday night. Hundreds of guns are stolen annually from cars parked in the area.
Brody Layne, who lives blocks from the shooting scene, expressed frustration with the ongoing violence and questioned whether existing law enforcement measures are sufficient. Andrea Daughtry, another resident, said the violence has become normalized and dampened the neighborhood’s vibrancy. Local businesses are already feeling the impact—one restaurant owner reported more than 65 reservation cancellations the day after the shooting.
Mayor Danny Avula called the shooting “absolutely heartbreaking” and “absolutely unacceptable,” announcing plans to accelerate new gun violence prevention initiatives. “This is not how people want to live,” Avula said at a Saturday press conference. The programs include deploying community ambassadors to patrol entertainment districts as businesses close, helping guide people safely home rather than lingering in the streets.
Both Avula and Chief Edwards pointed to the widespread availability of firearms as a critical factor in Richmond’s violence. The Richmond Police Department seizes more than 1,800 guns annually—about a third of what the New York City Police Department confiscates, despite serving a much smaller population. Over 400 guns were stolen from cars last year alone, with the majority of those thefts occurring in Shockoe Bottom and the adjacent Shockoe Slip.
The city’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention, established in spring 2025 under Mayor Avula, has been developing intervention strategies. Avula acknowledged Saturday that some prevention programs were not implemented quickly enough and pledged to have new initiatives operational by spring.
Richmond Police are working around the clock on the investigation. Major Crimes Detective J. DeBoard is leading the case and asks anyone with information to call 804-646-6795. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000 or through the P3 Tips smartphone app.
The incident marks the city’s most violent outbreak so far in 2026 and one of the deadliest in recent Richmond history.
