Three Richmond teens charged with first-degree murder in Lincoln Plair investigation
on June 6, 2013
Richmond police charged three teenagers on Monday in connection with the March 4 fatal shooting of 20-year-old Lincoln Plair. Plair was killed on the 100 block of 6th Street in Richmond while washing a car.
“All three are affiliated with a gang active in North Richmond known as the Swerve Gang,” Detective Stina Johanson said. The shooting took place in a rival neighborhood, though Plair is not believed to have been involved in gang activity.
The Contra Costa County district attorney’s office charged Richmond residents James Green, 18, Derrick Cooper and Antwone Johnson, both 19, following the arrest of Green on May 31. Cooper and Johnson were already in custody for an unrelated shooting and illegal gun possession, Johanson said.
Plair was known in the community for his service work. “He is the most honorable man I knew,” Susie Garcia, a close friend of the victim, said. “He wanted to make a homeless shelter and make Richmond a better place to live in.”
Plair’s former employer Toody Maher said, “He spent every day looking for people who needed help.”
The arrests followed a spate of shootings over the last eight weeks that killed three people, and which prompted an outcry from residents at recent City Council meetings. On Tuesday, the Richmond City Council unanimously passed a resolution to support the California State Senate Life Act Bills, which would strengthen state gun controls.
According to Deputy Police Chief Ed Medina, increased prosecutions for gun violence are the result of a change in policing tactics by the force. “We deployed our officers to work in specific communities, building officer-community relationships,” Medina said. “We have a lot more communication between the force and the community, a lot more tips are coming in.”
The Richmond Police Department’s homicide closure rate – cases that lead to an arrest or an arrest warrant – increased from 29 percent in 2011 to 55 percent last year, as previously reported in Richmond Confidential.
For Lincoln Plair’s loved ones, statistics like these are not just numbers; they are personal. “I am just so grateful to the investigators here in Richmond,” Garcia said. “All of his friends are very happy, and sad because we miss him. We were just hoping that they would be arrested and exposed.”
“We’re living in a war zone,” a source who provided a tip to police, and asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, said. “This is a bit of hope for us. The whole community is celebrating, people never thought that they’d be caught.”
Garcia and other community members are arranging a bike ride from Richmond to Oakland in Plair’s honor on Sunday– which would have been his 21st birthday. Community members will meet at Nicholl Park at 10 a.m.
13 Comments
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Hopefully there will be justice for Lincoln.
I’m about to have my first child … this story just breaks my heart. RIP Lincoln. And may justice be served.
Great job RPD and CCSD!!!!! Thank you!
Great job what? they do not even have the right people. so what is so great about sitting in a place where you are being blamed for what u did not do?
If they didn’t do it then they will be found not guilty, hopefully. But, anyone associated with a violent gang isn’t likely to be the most upstanding citizen in the town. So, either way, I’m glad they’re locked up.
Derrick Coopers mom. too many stories going around you should contact me if you want to get the real because defaming the community kids is slander. do you see what the bible says about slander? it is in the same boat as a murderer an rapist. so until then you should embark on real facts… Lord blezs the Plair family heal them an bestow peace and many angels
How does person even know if they got the right people or not unless they really know something^^^^^^ and your defending one person but saying people as if you know what they all do too….and they have evidence of some sort linking up and connecting with the people they do already have in custody (logical) otherwise they wouldnt be sitting there right? agree with mdanko about being apart of a gang….of course we all know a parent is going to defend there child but at the end 0f the day RIGHT IS RIGHT AND WRONG IS WRONG!! PARENTS NEED TO DO THEIR JOBS as a parent and parent them the correct instead of them running around shooting people that actually have a life and trying to better themselves. How about education or a job. and by the other articles based on this situation all the ignorant boys they do have in custody all are in violation & connection with other crimes/weapons so how good can a person be. LETS GET REAL!!!!!
U r so rite because if they did nt do it they wpuld b home rite now lastweek but they not right is right wrong is wrong the rite people got 2 pay 4 it so if they did not do go b home
exactly if their not doing anything wrong than of course they’ll be home but if they are then they’ll be in a square box with bars with a toilet seat next to where they lay there heads….EXACTLY WHERE THEY NEED T00 BE!!!!!
Rite where they need 2 b
p.s. R.I.P. LIL LINCOLN YOUR MISSED VERY MUCH NEVER FORGOTTEN!!! GOD HAS YOU AND JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED!!!!!
R.I.P
If you know who did it, you can report the information to the police, anonymously if you wish.
Does anyone who where James Green was arrested? Where?