RICHMOND – At least three people are dead and two others have been injured in four separate shootings in Richmond within three hours Sunday night, a police lieutenant said.

The first shooting was reported at about 8:30 p.m. near the intersection of Ohio Avenue and South 39th Street, Richmond police Lt. Bisa French said.

Upon arrival, police found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital, where he is expected to survive, French said.

Around 10:30 p.m., the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a homicide in unincorporated North Richmond, she said. French had little details about the fatal shooting because it is not within the Richmond Police Department’s jurisdiction.

Richmond police also responded to a homicide just after 11 p.m., in the 3200 block of Center Avenue. A 19-year-old man was shot and killed in his vehicle as he was preparing to leave after visiting friends in the neighborhood, French said.

Another homicide was reported at the intersection of MacDonald Avenue and First Street at about 11:15 p.m., she said. A 27-year-old man was fatally shot, and another man also suffered injuries that are not believed to be life threatening, French said.

The Richmond Police Department does not have any suspects in custody for the shootings.

It is too early to tell whether any of the shootings are related, French said. Investigators are interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence at the various crime scenes.

Copyright © 2011 by Bay City News, Inc. "… republication, re-transmission or reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.