James Edwin Richards

James Edwin Richards, also known as Jim Richards, (ca.1945 – 18 October 2000), was an American citizen journalist, editor and publisher of Neighborhood News, a weekly e-mail newsletter, that reported on crime in Venice, California. Richards was murdered at his Oakwood neighborhood home, one convicted assailant was sentenced to 16 years in prison, and the anniversary of his death is honored by locals. Richards was known in his community as a local anti-crime activist, block captain for the Model Neighborhood Program, and a member of the Community Police Advisory Board. His hometown was Dayton, Ohio. After attending Catholic schools in Dayton, he went on to earn his BA degree from Ohio State University. He then studied at UC Berkeley and graduated with a master's degree in business. Before turning to citizen journalism, Richards had established himself as a house painter, property manager, and real estate agent.

Citizen journalism Richards reported on criminal activity in the Oakwood neighborhood for around three years and was known by residents to be a "controversial" figure. Richards was known for reporting what he had heard on crime scanners, visiting crime scenes—often arriving first—and investigating criminals and even photographing drug deals for Neighborhood News. The Neighborhood News published a listing of crimes, such as shootings, drug sales, thefts, and vandalism. Initially, police said they did not have any leads and the Los Angeles City Council established a $25,000 reward. A man was sentenced on 24 February 2003 to 25 years in prison for his role in a national cocaine ring, and it was also believed that he and others were linked to the slaying of James Richards.

Context The Vera Davis McClendon Youth & Family Center is a local public meeting place for Oakwood neighborhood activists and residents, located in Venice, California.Venice, California had experienced a wave of gang-related violence during the 1990s, especially from 1994 to 1997, and experienced a resurgence prior to Richards' murder. In response, police, under the leadership of LAPD Chief of Police Bernard C. Parks, established a Model Neighborhood Program that placed more police in the neighborhoods who were regular patrolling within a zone while at the same time the city of Venice, according to advocate councilwoman Ruth Galanter, would use city resources to clean up vandalism and involve citizens. Richards' Oakwood neighborhood is located in Venice, California and is about 12 city square blocks in size.

Reactions As the investigation began, L.A. Police Lt. Horace Frank said, "people ought to be outraged by every murder. We're outraged by every murder and will pursue every murder aggressively."