PEORIA, Ill. – He didn’t work directly for Peoria International Airport, but the head of the airport says he had plenty of time to interact over the years with Samuel Richmond.
Richmond, 59, is the Peoria man shot and killed by police Monday night, as officers investigated shots fired calls in the area of Martin Luther King, Junior Park.
Airport director Gene Olson says Richmond worked for the contractor who handles janitorial duties for the airport, but ran into him plenty.
“He was the guy that, when you were walking across the terminal, you get a big wave and a smile and a handshake, and chat for a few minutes,” said Olson. “Same thing when he was on trash patrol, and collecting the trash out of my office. We’d chat for a few minutes.”
Olson says Richmond always would kid him about how messy his desk was — something he said he wouldn’t let Richardson clean.
Olson says Richmond’s kindness went well past his friendly nature.
“I heard a story recently where one of his coworkers…was having car trouble. He got up at four o’clock in the morning and went over to actually give that person his car keys. So, they took his car to work. He took their car and got it fixed. I mean…who does that?”
Olson says it certainly doesn’t sound like the type of person whom police claim put them in danger Monday night.
A State Police investigation into the shooting continues. The four officers who allegedly opened fire on Richmond are on administrative leave.
