Richmond police found a deceased man in the Eastshore neighborhood on Tuesday night. Credit: David Buechner for Richmondside

Richmond police arrested a 61-year-old Richmond man on a homicide charge in connection with his brother’s beating death Tuesday night.

Victor Blacknell was taken into custody by Richmond police at about 10:45 p.m. Tuesday at a residence on Maine Avenue, according to authorities. He is being held at the Martinez Detention Facility on a $1 million bail. It is unclear when he is scheduled to for his arraignment.

Richmond police responded to a residence on Potrero Avenue near South 45th Street around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday night. When officers arrived, medical responders were already there attempting to save 68-year-old Jerome Timmons’ life, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say that it appeared Timmons had been assaulted.

Investigators believe that Timmons and Blacknell had a verbal altercation that escalated into a physical fight.

“The investigation remains in its early stages, and detectives are continuing to determine what led to the altercation,” Richmond police said in a Facebook post about the case Wednesday afternoon.

Anyone with information can contact the Richmond Police Department’s investigations bureau at (510) 621-1288.

Blacknell is an older family member of a notorious Easter Hill Boys gang member, Joe ‘Fatter’ Blacknell, who was convicted in 2012 and sentenced to life in prison for a 2009 crime spree that included murder and armed car robberies.

This is a developing story, and Richmondside will update it when further details are available.

Joel Umanzor Richmondside's city reporter.

What I cover: I report on what happens in local government, including attending City Council meetings, analyzing the issues that are debated, shedding light on the elected officials who represent Richmond residents, and examining how legislation that is passed will impact Richmonders.

My background: I joined Richmondside in May 2024 as a reporter covering city government and public safety. Before that I was a breaking-news and general-assignment reporter for The San Francisco Standard, The Houston Chronicle and The San Francisco Chronicle. I grew up in Richmond and live locally.

Contact: joel@richmondside.org

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