Early Wednesday morning, a Richmond Public Works employee was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries from what was believed to be a gunshot wound.

“I was so saddened to hear about a City of Richmond Department of Public Works employee who was wounded while doing his job,” Mayor Danny Avula said in a press release. “Guns are taking a serious toll on people, and it's not okay.”

410 guns have been stolen from cars in Richmond this year. One area has been a particular hotspot.

Edwards said most of the vehicles from which guns are stolen are unlocked at the time of the theft.

The RichmonderSarah Vogelsong

According to Richmond Police: "Detectives have determined a confrontation among other persons in front of a business resulted in a suspect or suspects shooting at a departing vehicle. The victim was near the departing vehicle in a City of Richmond Department of Public Works trash collection truck when he was injured by gunfire."

Avula has made curbing gun violence one of his platforms as mayor.

“This is heartbreaking and is exactly why I am elevating this issue through my newly established Office of Gun Violence Prevention," he wrote. "Every Richmonder deserves to feel safe, whether you're out with friends or out collecting trash at 1:30 in the morning.”