Mother of Richmond homicide victim pleads for answers
RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - A woman whose son was murdered in Richmond, the day after Mother's Day, is pleading for answers.
Police say Rashawn Brathwaite, 23, was shot and killed while being robbed at the Midlothian Village apartments on May 9. Investigators believe Brathwaite was killed by suspect(s) who tried to rob him.
Brathwaite's mother, Lisa McConnell, says she spent Mother's Day with Brathwaite and his three brothers. McConnell says Brathwaite then spent that night at a young woman's home, at the Midlothian Village Apartments. The next morning, someone Brathwaite knew came to pick him up.
At some point, police say someone tried to rob Brathwaite, and bullets flew. Brathwaite and his friend were both shot; Brathwaite didn't survive.
"I'm devastated… I know my son. He was out there doing no wrong. He had a heart of gold. He trusted everyone," said McConnell, who says her son is trustworthy and not involved in any sort of criminal activity.
Police say the other shooting victim was shot in the leg and is recovering. He's not considered a suspect.
McConnell is pleading anyone who might have seen or heard something to call Richmond police. McConnell says she still has not been contacted by the other man shot along with Brathwaite or the lady he spent that night with.
Back in March, there was another homicide right outside the Midlothian Village Apartments that left a woman dead. In 2014, another young man shot and killed here.
Anyone with information can call police anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.
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