RICHMOND, Va. – A small bouquet wrapped in a red ribbon now marks the spot where 15-year-old Dora Hill was tragically shot and killed Wednesday afternoon in Richmond’s Jackson Ward neighborhood. The flowers were left by a neighbor who described Hill as a sweet girl who was always smiling, calling her death “devastating.”
Hill lived just a block away from where the shooting occurred, near the 1100 block of North 1st Street around 5:30 p.m. Her grieving family, who chose not to speak on camera, described her as a joyful and caring person who had a motherly nature. They recalled how she loved to cook for others and was eagerly planning for her 16th birthday and prom, events she had been looking forward to with excitement.
Richmond Police have not released many details about the circumstances surrounding the shooting. However, authorities confirmed they responded to reports of gunfire near North 1st and East Hill Streets. Witnesses reported hearing an argument, followed by a gunshot and screams.
According to investigators, Hill was with a “known person” at the time of the shooting, another teenager who has since been detained for questioning. Police have stated that no other suspects are being sought, though no charges have been filed against the detained individual at this time.
Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards expressed sorrow over the incident, emphasizing the tragic consequences of gun violence. “If you know you’re the type of person that can’t control your temper, don’t bring a gun to an argument,” Edwards stated. “Now we have a 15-year-old girl dead and another young man who may spend much of his life in prison.”
As the community mourns Hill’s untimely death, police continue to investigate the events leading up to the shooting. The case has reignited concerns over youth violence and the need for conflict resolution without the use of firearms. Richmond authorities will address this and other recent shootings in an upcoming crime briefing, while friends and family remember Dora Hill as a bright and loving presence taken too soon.
