“We’re always afraid,” James said.

Many of the onlookers were reticent to talk about the violence that persists in everyday lives.

Thursday was the third day in a row that police have investigated deaths, Police Chief Alfred Durham said, and it is starting to take a toll on officers and detectives.

“This has to stop,” he said. “This is not the city of Richmond. We experienced this 20 years ago, and we don’t want to go back to where we were then.”

The deaths of Shaquenda and Deborah Walker bring the homicide total to 13 this year. At this time last year, nine homicides were being investigated, including two domestic incidents and a murder-suicide. The year ended with 61 homicides total — the most in a decade — nine of which were domestic incidents.

Mayor Levar Stoney, who also was at the crime scene Thursday, called the incident “a senseless act” that appeared to be an isolated one.

“It’s a tough day,” he said.

He urged anyone with information about any of the recent deaths to come forward.

“If you know something, say something,” he said.