RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The Richmond Police Department is searching for a man suspected in a strangulation and aggravated assault that occurred in Shockoe Bottom last month.
Shortly after 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 26, officers were called to the 00 block of North 19th Street for a reported assault.
Upon their arrival, officers found an injured woman who — according to police — had been assaulted by an unknown male in an alley off of North 19th Street.
According to police, detectives received important tips from the public during their investigation that led them to identify a suspect. Detectives are seeking public assistance in finding Ladell Holmes, 23, of Richmond.
“The victim reported she was walking in the area when assaulted by Holmes, who strangled and struck her, seriously injuring her leg,” a release from the Richmond Police Department reads.
Sgt. Anthony Catoggio said surveillance cameras nearby caught the assault on video.
“We did have security cameras in that area. That’s why we want all businesses to have cameras because not only can it protect their business it can also help us with something random that just happens in their area,” he said.
He described what he saw in the surveillance video, stressing the attack “was as violent as it was senseless.”
“The victim was walking down the alley and you just see the suspect come out from the shadows and just come up behind her, and I mean before she even knew what was going on the suspect was on top of her,” Catoggio said.
He warns residents to stay safe while also keeping an eye out for the suspect.
“From downtown basically to Shockoe Bottom, we want people to be on the lookout for this gentleman because that’s where our investigations led us to believe he’s around,” he said.
Detectives ask the public not to engage with Holmes if seen, but to call 911.
Anyone with information regarding this incident or the whereabouts of Holmes is encouraged to contact Major Crimes at 804-646-6741.
