Fredericksburg.com - Bouncer killed at city restaurant

search local
Follow us on Twitter Find us on Facebook

Get a printer-friendly version of this page. E-mail this story to a friend.
Make a post about this story on FredTalk.



Visit Jim Hall's blog: Rapid Assessment
Visit Janet Marshall's blog: In Moderation

Richardson

View More Images from this story

Visit the Photo Place

Bouncer killed at city restaurant
Shot twice, bouncer at Central Park restaurant dies; city man sought

Date published: 1/13/2008

BY KEITH EPPS

Fredericksburg police last night were looking for a teenager suspected in the city's first slaying this year.

Brandon Lee Smith, 19, of Fredericksburg is accused of shooting and killing 30-year-old Dasan Ka'Wila Richardson early yesterday. The death occurred at Mi Casa Restaurant in Central Park, where Richardson, also a Fredericksburg resident, worked as a bouncer, police said.

Smith is charged with first-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of a felony. A search for him yesterday in the Riverside Manor townhouse complex, off Fall Hill Avenue in the city, was unsuccessful.

According to police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe, Richardson was shot twice in the chest during an altercation at the front door of the restaurant about 1:15 a.m. Rescue workers treated him at the scene within minutes, but Richardson was pronounced dead at Mary Washington Hospital shortly after getting there. His wife met rescue workers at the hospital.

The shooting was apparently the result of Smith's being kicked out of the nightspot a short time earlier for being underage. Bledsoe said Smith returned about 10 minutes later with "four or five" friends and they got into an altercation with the bouncers. At some point, police said, Smith pulled out a gun and shot Richardson. It is not clear whether Smith had the gun all along or got it after being forced to leave the business.

Bledsoe said patrons were fleeing from the nightspot as police were arriving, but police got enough information to identify Smith as the suspect. A search warrant was obtained for a home in Riverside Manor, and the city's Special Equipment and Tactical Team went into the home. No one was there, Bledsoe said, but police did recover some evidence there as well as at the slaying scene.

Prior to the raid, police sent a reverse 911 message to residents in that area urging them to stay inside while police activity was under way. Another call was made later telling residents to return to business as usual.

Richardson, a native of Hawaii who was 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed more than 300 pounds, also had a Riverside Manor address, but Bledsoe said there is no evidence that he and Smith knew each other.

The investigation is continuing, and Bledsoe said it is possible that charges will be filed against others involved in the disturbance.

Smith is no stranger to city police. According to court records, he has two trials scheduled next month in Fredericksburg Circuit Court on marijuana and cocaine distribution charges.

Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
Email: kepps@freelancestar.com



Read more stories about Fredericksburg
Date published: 1/13/2008



Most recent reader comments:

Viewing 5 out of 6 comments. (Sorted in reverse order, with most recent post at the top.)

Display comments on this page. | Sort:

PLEASE READ: These reader comments are not moderated. Each user is solely responsible for any message (s)he posts here. The Free Lance-Star does not endorse the views expressed within these comments. All users who post to this Web site must agree to the terms of the FredTalk User Agreement. We rely on our readers to police themselves, and report any content that violates our User Agreement. In accordance with our User Agreement, we reserve the right to remove any post at any time for any reason, and will restrict access of registered users who repeatedly violate our terms. Any reader can report inappropriate content by clicking the "Report this post to admins" link at the bottom of each comment. You need not be registered to report a post.

my condolences.. (posted by shimmy , Jan. 15, 2008 2:17 pm)    0 likes
I was shocked to hear about this. I've known Dasan since I was 8 years old. I looked up to him and I know my family will deeply miss our neighbor and friend. I'm speechless. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you all. Jason

Shocked... (posted by mizzwilliams33 , Jan. 15, 2008 9:29 am)    0 likes
I've known Dasan since he was a little boy when his oldest sister Mele and I were best friends in High school. Although I haven't seen him in a long time I've remained in occasional contact w/his mom. Kim----I am so very sorry for your loss. Please know my prayers are with you all. Big hugs to you and the girls.

To the Richardson Family (posted by tammylighting , Jan. 14, 2008 8:51 pm)    0 likes
Dasan was a great person and would do just about anything for you and I just hope that the Smith guy realizes that he took a husband, father, brother and son away from his family over something so senseless as a age thing. Dasan was doing his job to support his family and got murdered over it. I just hope that if anyone knows anything about this crime to PLEASE call the police and let them know how to catch this crazed man. The Richardson family is in my prayers. R.I.P. Dasan

To Dasan's family (posted by momto3 , Jan. 13, 2008 8:28 pm)    0 likes
My heartfelt condolences on his senseless loss of life. I'm so very sorry that his life was cut short by someone w/ no respect for life. Prayers for peace and healing.

never to be free to enjoy 21 (posted by staffmom , Jan. 13, 2008 1:27 pm)    0 likes
If it is true that Smith killed Richardson for sending him out of the resturant for being underage, my hope is Smith will never be free to enjoy the opportunities one has after turning 21. I simply cannot imagine the anger one would have to have in order to kill another person simply because they were carrying out an age related law. Where does this kind of anger come from?

What do you think?
Enter your FredTalk username and password to post a comment on this story. If you are registered on FredTalk or another part of this site, use that login here. Otherwise, you can just REGISTER here... .

Posting guidelines

1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
2. Please avoid offensive, vulgar, abusive, hateful or defamatory language.
3. Agree to read & follow THE RULES.
4. Use the "report to admins" link for posts which violate the rules. 5. Keep it on-topic. Posts which contribute nothing of value to the conversation will be deleted.

Username:
Password:

Post title:


Please keep it brief (Limit is 512 characters). Please note, attempts to circumvent this limit by making
multiple posts back-to-back (ex: 'continued', 'part1, 2', etc) will be deleted.

Please make sure CAPS LOCK is off. Posts in ALL CAPS will be deleted.)


By checking this box, you agree to the terms of the FredTalk User agreement.









The Free Lance-Star fredericksburg.com 93.3 WFLS Print Innovators Classic Rock 96.9 99.3 The Vibe wntx radio